AML dismisses sea weed claims
African Minerals SL Ltd. (AML) Freetown, 8 July, 2011 – Our attention has been drawn to a news item carried by Cotton Tree News (CTN) on its morning broadcast of Friday July 8, 2011 associating the mountain of sea weed on the beachfronts at Lumley with African Minerals (SL) Limited.
We take great exception to the report. It is completely clear that the weed on the beaches that span across the whole coast of Sierra Leone has nothing to do with AML’s dredging at Pepel, north of Sierra Leone.
Therefore, we think the effort by the radio station was inexcusably limited and completely unfair on our part. This communication serves to straighten the records, but also to encourage the media to clarify and or refer their reservations to the appropriate authorities at our 154 Wilkinson Road head office in Freetown before they go public.
AML has spent a huge effort in making sure all its operations conform to international standards, including its dredging at Pepel. The company took samples of the sand from Pepel and the dump site for disposal and tested for animals, plants, chemicals and physical properties.
The company even took underwater video and used computer simulation modelling to make sure the sand stayed where it is dumped. The dredging simply involved removal of totally clean sand from one part of the sea bed to the other and no possible chance to interfere with floating algae that has probably moved hundreds of miles.
To be sure a consultant of mine who works here on Marine and Fisheries asked if AML could help with research by Fourah Bay College to find out all the facts. We are, however, looking into the possibility, not only to defend the allegations, but to demonstrate we are a good corporate citizen and a good example of corporate social responsibility is a testimony we are a great company.
We are a responsible corporate citizen. In conformity with the Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency (SLEPA) Act 2008, AML in October 2010 undertook a study, completed and presented an Environmental Social and Health Impact Assessment report with a view to minimizing potential negative environmental social and health impacts.
Background
The weed, which is a brown algae close to the species of Sargassumoligocystum which is an Indo-Pacific species free-floating seaweed found offshore in mats (not usually found along these coasts in large amounts, but no-one probably knows as no-one has investigated it) – in the Mediterranean Sea there is more commonly SargassumVulgare or SargassumHornschuci (2 other species).
If it is found locally and there was a big storm it could have been ripped off and washed up onto the beaches at high, big tides, which we have had in Sierra Leone over recent weeks. It can also just be floating in large rafts carried around in currents and can drift hundreds of miles. It is known around the world to impede fishing boats and navigation as it just grows into huge rafts of the stuff.
As described above, the weed is mainly a Pelagic Species, – which means it floats around in the sea/Ocean and does not commonly live rooted on the Sea Bed and it’s not a species found in Sierra Leone waters.
Also the US Coastguard Cutter is at sea and could take some samples offshore if notified as she left Freetown 8 July, 2011.
About AML
African Minerals is developing the wholly owned Tonkolili iron ore project in Sierra Leone, with a JORC compliant resource of 12.8 billion tonnes. The project, which currently has a 60+ year mine-life, is being developed in 3 phases. Phase I of the project is fully funded and at full capacity is expected to produce 12 million tonnes of iron ore per annum once it ramps up from initial production in the last quarter of 2011. Phases II and III are expected to boost production incrementally by 23 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) and 45Mtpa respectively. African Minerals and its contractors currently employ approximately 3,600 people in Sierra Leone, 78% of whom are Sierra Leonean nationals.
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