KOTIN-TRI FODON SOTE, IN HED PAS GRAS. No matter how low a cotton tree falls, it's still taller than grass.
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S.Leone reviews mines policy amid iron ore dispute
FREETOWN, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Sierra Leone is reviewing its mining policy while two foreign firms fight over the rights to a potentially lucrative iron ore project, the government of the West African state said on Tuesday.
Frank Timis faces court over African mines
FRANK TIMIS is no stranger to controversy. Only three years ago he sparked City outrage over the near-collapse of Regal Petroleum. Now the Romanian, who has a number of drug offences behind him, is on the cusp of a legal battle in Sierra Leone over a $45m (£26m) cash and shares deal he announced to the stock exchange last week.
Vimetco acquires bauxite mine in Sierra Leone
Vimetco N.V. (LSE: VICO), the global producer of primary and
processed aluminium products, today announces the acquisition of the
whole of the issued share capital of Global Aluminium Limited from
Titanium Resources Group Ltd. The acquisition, which is due to complete
today, is for
Nigeria wants mining reparations
Nigeria's Plateau State wants $100bn (£50bn) in compensation from
the UK and Europe for environmental damage caused, it says, by mining
in colonial times.
Ghana Host West Africa Mining Exhibition
The Eighth West African International Mining and Power Exhibition (WAMPOC
2008) is underway in Accra on the theme: 'Development Through Mining And Power-
A Shared Responsibility.'
Sierra Leone lifts suspension on Israeli diamond miner
The government of Sierra Leone has lifted a suspension on an Israeli diamond
mining firm following a five-month investigation into a riot that left two
people dead.
Sierra Leone in December ordered Koidu Holdings, controlled by Israeli
diamond merchant Beny Steinmetz, to halt all operations pending an investigation
into the incident in which police shot into a crowd of rioting youths who were
protesting over long-standing land disputes with the company.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, the government said it was "immediately
lifting" the ban after a consultation with Steinmetz and other officials
this week.
"Koidu Holdings are cleared of all charges and accusations," the statement
said, adding that the government is working with the company to try to resolve
the issues of land ownership and resettlement of displaced residents around
the mine.
Police have said the officers were shooting warning shots to quell a protest
that had turned uncontrollably violent — with youths ransacking the town and
burning two police posts.
A report issued last month by investigators said police went on a
"trigger-happy free-for-all shooting spree." It said Koidu could have "shown a
little bit of restraint and sensitivity toward the demonstrators," but did not
fault the company.
Sierra Leone is still struggling to recover from a devastating 10-year civil
war that ended in 2002. Koidu has been operating in the country since 2003.
Sierra
Leone lifts suspension on Israeli diamond miner - International Herald
Tribune
A beef with Sierra Leone
 Who is Lake Conroe resident Roger Crooks? And why is he suing the government
of Sierra Leone?
Once linked to alleged arms smugglers, Crooks, 59, is a well-known
businessman in Sierra Leone who mined diamonds there and helped save people
fleeing the fighting during the country's bloody coup in 1997.
LRC PRESENTS MINES & MINERALS REPORT
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In his welcome address, Dr. Peter Tucker said he was happy to see the invitees who were selected to hear the report and ask questions that would be answered by the presenters and the chairman.
River Diamonds raises 4,7m pounds to buy Fiji gold mine
 River Diamonds is to raise £4.7m (K28.2 million) through a placing to acquire
the Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji.
River currently has a 19% stake in the mine
through its 20% ownership Viso Gero International (VGI), which owns 94% of
Vatukola’s owner Westech Gold.
First Test Gives Cream Minerals Gem quality Stones
 Cream
Minerals Ltd. discovered 46 diamonds in the first four days of
operations at its Sewa River property in Sierra Leone. The diamonds
were recovered from the upstream end of the approximately 4-kilometre
long river section. In aggregate, the 46 stones weighed approximately
21.5 carats and more than 90 percent of the stones were considered to
be of gem quality.
All stones recovered were being submitted
to the government's Diamond Office to determine royalties and for the
issuance of Kimberley Process certificates. Following payment of
applicable royalties and certification, Cream will be able to export
and sell the diamonds.
INTERVIEW-S. Leone to complete mining review in 3 months
 Sierra Leone will complete a review of all mining contracts within the next
three months to resolve disputes over licences awarded under the previous
government, President Ernest Bai Koroma said in an interview.
Koroma, who won a close election last September in the small West African
state, said he had called in experts from the World Bank to conduct the study
which will affect all foreign and local miners operating in the ore-rich former
British colony.
Gold miner Teeling sees growth in Sierra Leone
 DUBLIN (Reuters) - Exploration company West African Diamonds is expanding its
gold and diamond operations in Sierra Leone with scope for good growth in the
coming years, the company's chairman John Teeling said on Tuesday.
Teeling, an Irish mining entrepreneur, said gold and diamond production had
begun at its plant 11 project in Koidu.
West African nations seek more benefit from mining
 A dozen countries from around West and Central Africa meet in Guinea on
Monday to discuss how they can derive greater long-term economic benefit from
their mining sectors, a senior World Bank official said.
Fatal Clashes in Kono Prompt Government Inquiry
 Sierra Leone’s government is calling for an inquiry into recent events in
which a number of protestors were killed in clashes with police officers in the
diamond-rich eastern Sierra Leone province of Kono. The clashes were sparked by
what the government dubbed as “discontent” between the Koidu Holdings Mining
Company and area residents.
African Minerals to expand Tonkolili drilling programme in 2008
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 LONDON (Thomson Financial) - African Minerals Ltd said it intends
to expand its drilling programme at the Tonkolili iron ore project
located in Sierra Leone in 2008.
The company said it has executed contracts for a major expansion of the
drilling programme and commenced a preliminary scoping study on
rehabilitating the disused Pepel port, ship loading and rail
infrastructure.
Executive chairman Frank Timis said with
additional drilling rigs, the company is in a good position to
accelerate its drilling programme in 2008.
African Minerals to expand Tonkolili drilling programme in 2008
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LONDON (Thomson Financial) - African Minerals Ltd said it intends
to expand its drilling programme at the Tonkolili iron ore project
located in Sierra Leone in 2008.
The company said it has executed contracts for a major expansion of the
drilling programme and commenced a preliminary scoping study on
rehabilitating the disused Pepel port, ship loading and rail
infrastructure.
Executive chairman Frank Timis said with
additional drilling rigs, the company is in a good position to
accelerate its drilling programme in 2008.
African Minerals to expand Tonkolili drilling programme in 2008
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LONDON (Thomson Financial) - African Minerals Ltd said it intends
to expand its drilling programme at the Tonkolili iron ore project
located in Sierra Leone in 2008.
The company said it has executed contracts for a major expansion of the
drilling programme and commenced a preliminary scoping study on
rehabilitating the disused Pepel port, ship loading and rail
infrastructure.
Executive chairman Frank Timis said with
additional drilling rigs, the company is in a good position to
accelerate its drilling programme in 2008.
African Minerals to expand Tonkolili drilling programme in 2008
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african minerals,
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LONDON (Thomson Financial) - African Minerals Ltd said it intends
to expand its drilling programme at the Tonkolili iron ore project
located in Sierra Leone in 2008.
The company said it has executed contracts for a major expansion of the
drilling programme and commenced a preliminary scoping study on
rehabilitating the disused Pepel port, ship loading and rail
infrastructure.
Executive chairman Frank Timis said with
additional drilling rigs, the company is in a good position to
accelerate its drilling programme in 2008.
African Minerals to expand Tonkolili drilling programme in 2008
Tags:
african minerals,
african minerals,
african minerals,
african minerals,
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mining,
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mining,
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LONDON (Thomson Financial) - African Minerals Ltd said it intends
to expand its drilling programme at the Tonkolili iron ore project
located in Sierra Leone in 2008.
The company said it has executed contracts for a major expansion of the
drilling programme and commenced a preliminary scoping study on
rehabilitating the disused Pepel port, ship loading and rail
infrastructure.
Executive chairman Frank Timis said with
additional drilling rigs, the company is in a good position to
accelerate its drilling programme in 2008.
Congo's Diamond Industry Let Back Into Kimberly Process
The Republic of Congo has rejoined the Kimberly Process, a global watchdog group designed to stop the flow of conflict diamonds. Analysts say the move shows controls on the diamond trade in the country are improving, but warn that there is still much to be done to regulate the diamond industry, both in Congo and around the world. Selah Hennessy reports from the VOA West and Central Africa bureau in Dakar.
Confiscated rough diamonds are displayed at the US Customs and Border Protection office in Anchorage, Alaska, 19 July 2007
"This is very, very important for our country," said Alain Akouala, Congo's communication minister. He said the move, which makes it possible for Congo to export diamonds worldwide, will boost Congo's business community.
"This country has an important economic potential and we need to do business, we need to build up our country," he added.
The Kimberley Process was established with diamond industry backing in late 2002. The effort came in response to growing world concern about so-called "blood diamonds" that fueled and funded the bloody 1990s conflicts in Angola, Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Republic of Congo was kicked out of the Kimberly Process (KP) in 2004 after it was found that it had smuggled from surrounding nations the majority of its diamonds it was putting on the market each year through Europe and the Middle East.
Akouala says new controls have been introduced so that diamonds can now be easily be tracked and the industry regulated.
Annie Dunnebacke, a campaigner for London-based watchdog Global Witness, says the KP decision shows that Congo has come a long way. But she says there is still great potential for illicit trade in the region, where porous borders and weak controls remain a problem.
"You have situations where although the government has taken steps to step up border control, for instance, or to train customs officials - you have situations where controls still are not strong enough," she said. "So we will have to keep an eye out and make sure that the borders are strong enough and that diamonds are not being smuggled in or out of the Republic of Congo."
Dunnebacke says KP has served as an important tool for regulating the diamond trade since its launch in 2002, but that there is still much to be done to make regulation effective.
"There is a serious lack of political will in terms of governments agreeing to have proper oversight over their industry, and I think there is also a lack of will on the part of the industry to self regulate the way they should, so there is a lot of work still to be done on the KP to make it effective," she added.
She says there are a few very problematic loopholes in the system. She says, for example, KP only regulates rough diamonds, not those that are polished. "One of the major loop-holes that you can find is conflict or illicit diamonds could be smuggled directly into a cutting or polishing center and come out the other end and have completely escaped KP controls," she explained.
The European Union hosted the four-day Kimberly Process meeting in Brussels. The multi-national body says the Kimberly Process is becoming increasingly effective in the fight against conflict diamonds.
More than 80 percent of the world's rough diamonds pass through the EU, via the Belgium port city Antwerp.
VOA News - Congo's Diamond Industry Let Back Into Kimberly Process
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SERIAL mining entrepreneur Roy Pitchford has now turned his attention to
Sierra Leone through African Minerals – the AIM-listed exploration company of
which he is CEO.
MP Maju Bah stated: “The importance of this conference to Sierra Leone is
indicated by the very large and high-powered delegation we have sent. It also
shows the importance of Israel to our country and this is just the beginning.”
