BY YUSUFU SESAY
His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio yesterday Tuesday 15th April, 2025 has officially commissioned Phase I of the Leone Rock Metal Group’s (LMRG) 30 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) Magnetite Processing Plant, marking a major milestone in Sierra Leone’s industrial development.

The commissioning ceremony, held at the company’s site, Dansogoia Chiefdom, Tonkolili District signifies LMRG’s growing contribution to the national economy through mining and mineral processing.

In addition to launching the plant, LRMG disbursed NLE62, 214,818 of the 4th Community Development Agreement (CDA) fund to host communities. This gesture underscores the LRMG's commitment to ensuring that communities directly benefit from extractive activities taking place in its localities . The CDA fund is expected to support sustainable development projects including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and livelihood programmes..

The dual events reflect the company's drive to promote inclusive growth while attracting sustainable investment in Sierra Leone’s mining sector.

In his statement President Bio acknowledged dignitaries - including government ministers, parliamentarians, and corporate leaders.
“I have the honour of handing over a dummy cheque today to the people of Tonkolili.” he said .

He explained that this symbolic gesture marked one of many positive developments in the region. When Leone Rock commenced operations in 2021, the focus was on exporting 57% unbeneficated ore via Direct Shipping. However, a transformation began in 2024 with the commissioning of a 12-million-tonnes-per-annum processing plant producing a 62% grade of iron ore concentrate.

“Today, in addition to handing over a dummy check, we are commissioning a 10-million-tonnes-per-annum processing plant designed to produce over 65% grade concentrate,” President Bio declared. He stressed, “The higher the grade, the greater the in-country value addition. Next time, we will deliver even better results—and that means higher royalties and more substantial Community Development Agreement (CDA) payments.”

The President emphasized that mining in Sierra Leone has a history spanning nearly a century in which local communities seldom benefitted. “This did not happen in a vacuum. It is intentional and deliberate,” he said. Praising the leadership and performance of Leone Rock Metal Group—which, despite early doubts regarding its capacity, has exceeded expectations—he noted that the company now employs over 7,000 Sierra Leoneans. “I put my reputation on the line, and they have performed above expectation.

In his remarks, CEO of Leone Rock Metal Group, Gilbert Zhao described the occasion as “a national milestone,” emphasizing that the newly commissioned plant - the first of its kind in Sierra Leone - marks the beginning of the country’s journey toward industrial benefaction.

“This is not just a company achievement. This is a symbol of Sierra Leone’s readiness to move from raw material exports to value-added production,” Zhao said. “We are grateful for the peace, policy clarity, and investment climate provided by the government.”

Zhao revealed that the company now employs over 9,200 workers, over 90% of whom are Sierra Leoneans, and is committed to deepening its local content policy and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Making his welcome statement, Paramount of Dansogoia Chiefdom, PC Alimamy Bockarie Yalan Koroma III expressed gratitude to President Maada Bio for reviewed mining policies in the mining sector. " Had it not been for President Bio, host communitiee will not have been benefiting massively from mining companies in the country" he averred.

He thanked LRMG for the annual CDA funds directly benefit the communities.

PC Yalan Koroma III spoke about the stringent measures put in place for the utilization of the funds in the interest of the people in host communities.
The PC further highlighted several facilities established with the annual CDA fund in all host Chiefdoms.

He expressed the need for the construction of the dilapidated road network from Magburaka to the host communities.

Representative of the Members of Parliament in Primary Host Communities, Hon. Rose Marie Bangura disclosed that President Bio has made no mistake to give them LRMG to operate in their Chiefdoms.

According to her, LRMG is doing its best to improve lives of the people there by providing access to clean drinkable water, healthcare, education, employment opportunities among others.

The Law Maker further spoke about sustainable development projects that will benefit the people even after LRMG wrapped up operations in host communities.

Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Mattai said that the payment of annual CDA fund to host communities is a clear testament of the reviewed laws in the sector under the leadership of President Bio.

He further reiterated about the judicious utilization of the fund to build capacity of people and other sustainable development projects directly benefit the communities.