After years of operation in Marampa and Maforki chiefdoms, Marampa Mines has eyed the Pepel Port and the Tonkolili-Pepel rail facilities for investment. The company is poised to improve Sierra Leone’s economy to which it has significantly contributed throughout the years. As it grows, the need for expansion remains high.
Kingho has taken over Tonkolili mining site, Arise Industrial Integrated Platforms has occupied vast land in Koya chiefdom in PortLoko district where it will establish a special economic zone, and Marampa Mines should now occupy and manage the Pepel Port and the Tonkolili-Pepel rail facilities so that it can offer more to the country.
Throughout its years of operation, Marampa Mines, residents say, has done tremendously well in lifting their communities from poverty to prosperity. The company exhibited its relevance to community development immediately it landed in Sierra Leone.
On its arrival in Marampa, the company paid all surface rent arrears owed to land owners in the two chiefdoms by mining companies which had operated in their communities. Medical facilities were also instantly provided by the company for workers and members of land holding families including wives and children. Plans to construct houses to relocate of DELCO (Development Company) quarters were also announced.
This promise would have been met had there been no fall out between the company and the government. DELCO is the first company to mine Iron Ore in Marampa, an activity that ran from 1930 to 1975. The company has done a lot within the spheres of corporate philanthropy and social responsibility.
In its philanthropic activities, the company has poured huge finances in community development activities as well as education, government’s flagship project. Le38 billion has gone into community development activities in Marampa and Maforki chiefdoms. Pupils and students from the two chiefdoms are also enjoying scholarships running into hundreds of millions of Leones, thanks to Marampa Mines.
The sum is whooping for a company that just stayed briefly in the community. Director for Community Relations at Marampa Mines, Professor Sheik Umar Kamara says the CDA payment by the company was the first since Iron Ore was discovered in Marampa. The company’s investment in education is one without equal anywhere in the world. Spending in education means the company is building a bright future for the country. No country can develop above its literacy standard, development experts say.
Through education, the children are being prepared to take up important positions of trust and responsibility to give back to society. In spite of the glorious achievements, Marampa Mines has not relegated to complacency as it is willing to do more. Between 2019 and 2021, the company’s mining operation was disrupted by way of legal suit. Upon taking over state command in 2018, Marampa Mines fell victim to a government’s raid on all illegal agreements alleged to have been left behind by the past government.
Confident that their agreement was legal, Marampa Mines prevailed on government to recognise them in Sierra Leone, but the appeal did not go through. The disagreement between government and the company led an indefinite ban on the export of Marampa Blue, the popular name given to the Iron Ore in Marampa Chiefdom. The ban cost Marampa Mines millions of US dollars since the company went out of business for over a year.
However, the Iron Ore miner went back to business when an out-of-court settlement was brokered. As it goes back to business, the company thought it fit to expand its operations for the country’s benefit. Expansion in mining operations means more investment, more foreign exchange, more royalties and more aid to areas of operation.