Koidu Holdings today urged a Sierra Leone Commission of Inquiry to conduct a
thorough and expeditious review of illegal mining activities in the areas that
surround its Koidu Kimberlite project site, pledging its cooperation with the
proceedings.
“Koidu Holdings has offered its full cooperation to the Commission of
Inquiry,” said Patrick Saada, a director for the company. “It is our hope that
the Commission can work expeditiously and in the best interests of all of the
stakeholders – the community, the workers and the nation – so that the mining
operations of Koidu Holdings can resume as quickly as possible at this site.”
The Koidu Kimberlite project is the single largest private foreign investment
in post-war in Sierra Leone. Koidu Holdings is the largest taxpayer in Sierra
Leone, and has been one of the nation’s largest employers, with 500 local and 70
expatriate employees. The wages for these unionized workers are among the
highest in the mining industry in Sierra Leone.
In recent months, the company has increasingly expressed concerns to
government officials about a dramatic deterioration of security in the area and
an encroachment of illicit diamond miners into the Koidu Kimberlite Project
site.
For that reason, Koidu Holdings stopped all activities at the Koidu
Kimberlite Project because it could no longer be certain of the safety of its
personnel and equipment. The Sierra Leone government subsequently issued an
order to suspend work at the mine and has announced establishment of a
Commission of Inquiry to look into certain aspects of the situation.
“ These illegal mining activities violate the rights of Koidu Holdings to the
diamonds on this land, threaten the safety and security of the company’s
employees and endanger the very viability of the operation,” Saada said. “ Koidu
Holdings is committed to continuing its diamond mining operations in Sierra
Leone, and we are asking for the Government’s support in establishing a safe
working environment for the workers on this project.
“Because operations have been suspended by government order during the
inquiry, much of the local workforce is in danger of being laid off, which could
harm the economic health and well being of the surrounding community,” Saada
added. “We are seeking expeditious consideration of these matters by the
Commission so Koidu Holdings and our workers can get back to work on this
project.”
Koidu Holdings has indicated that it is prepared to continue its significant
investment in the infrastructure of the mines and the social welfare activities
undertaken in the community that surrounds the mine, including the building of
new homes for those affected by mining activities.
Koidu Holdings is committed to raising the standards of mining operations in
Sierra Leone and has instituted rules and regulations that are some of the most
stringent in Africa.
Koidu Holdings today urged a Sierra Leone Commission of Inquiry to conduct a
thorough and expeditious review of illegal mining activities in the areas that
surround its Koidu Kimberlite project site, pledging its cooperation with the
proceedings.
