African Minerals $3 Billion Investment Takes Off

Sixteen International companies flock in as African Minerals $3 Billion Investment Takes Off

The long awaited and first of its kind mining project in Sierra Leone involving the biggest iron ore mining company – African Minerals Ltd., worth at a minimum of $3 billion has, according to the company, finally kicked off as 16 different international engineering and construction companies have come into the country to begin the first phase of the project for this year.

Yesterday in Freetown, the sixteen international companies had a preliminary meeting with local service provider companies that will be peering them to implement the multi-billion dollar project that is soon to commence in the country.

The project which is the 3rd largest iron ore extraction venture in the world and the largest in the African Sub-region is expected to target the construction of a private port and railway that will run from Tonkolili in the far North of the country to Targreen in Lungi (North-Western creek of the country), which will be an initial extraction of surface iron mineral deposit an export that is due to employ up to 10,000 local youths.

At the meeting which was held at the Taiya Resort at Lumley Beach, the local engineers and their international counterparts held briefs in positions of strength and were made au fait with what service each of them could provide as per their capacity.

Infrastructural Consultant for the project, said the project will enhance the capacity of local service providers which was why he said the interactive session was held between them and their international counterparts where views, ideas and the frame work of the project was digested.. He further said the project will come with many fringe and direct benefits that the people of Sierra Leone will enjoy as part of the African Minerals package. He noted among other things that whilst employment will be offered to a vast many of our youths, other areas like the corporate benefits citizens of the country are bound to enjoy, the use of the private port and rail by other business people, the provision of additional electricity supply and helping in the completion of Phase II of the Bumbuna Hydro electricity project will all be part of the package.

Adam Clode, head of the international engineering and architectural team told journalists during the short conference that they have so much respect for their local counterparts and as such are very much reliant on them for much of the success of the project. He applauded government’s pro-activeness in ensuring the signing of various aspects of the African Mineral Concession which according to him goes a long way ensuring the eradication of poverty, joblessness and donor dependency in the country.Â

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!