Stellar Diamonds Submits Sierra Leone Mining Licence Application

(IDEX Online News) – Stellar Diamonds plc has formally submitted its application for a large-scale mining licence for the Tongo project to the National Minerals Agency (NMA) of Sierra Leone. Once it is processed by the NMA, the application will be forwarded to the Minerals Advisory Board (MAB) for consideration.

The MAB is responsible for recommending the approval of the mining licence to the Minister of Mines.

In addition, the final Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) report has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for consideration. In order to complete the process with the EPA, public disclosure meetings will be held in the New Year both in the project area and in Freetown, after which the ESIHA can be approved by the EPA and the required environmental licence issued.

“The submission of the Tongo mining licence application and ESHIA marks a key milestone in the development of the project as we make the transition from exploration to mining,” said Stellar chief executive Karl Smithson.  

“Notably, as far as I am aware, this is the first large-scale mining licence of any kind to be applied for since the onset of the Ebola crisis. As such this therefore also marks an important milestone for the country of Sierra Leone which needs to attract new private sector investment to contribute to its post-Ebola economic recovery. I look forward to providing further updates as these applications are processed.”

Stellar Diamonds plc is a diamond development company focused on West Africa.