By Paul Lamin
Joining Minds Mining Company (JM Mines SL ltd) is set to employ over 2,000 Sierra Leoneans across the country as the company continues to perform its corporate responsibility to both the government and the community people in Nongowa Chiefdom Kenema District.
JM mining Company SL Ltd started exploration activities in the Mbabawo community in 2017 and during that exploration period the government, the Ministry of Mines and MineralR, National Minerals Agency (NMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been very much cooperative and are working in close collaboration with the company to ensure that the government and the people of this country benefit from their natural resources.
In 2021 the company secured an exploration license certificates after sepetating with the Aberdeen Gold Mines and from that time company has fulfill all their obligations and every year the JM Mining pays $46,186 to the government’s National Revenue Authority (NRA) as prescribed in the Mines and Mineral Act 2009.
J M mining Company according to the Geologist, Karifa Jawara is an indegenou mining company that has come to transform the lives of the people of this country eventhough it is supported by a Dutch Geert Kampschoer who always ensures that the right thing is done.
He said the company is trying to undergo all the necessary process so as to be to be awarded a valid mining license
Karifa Jawara said over the years the JM Mining Company has paid loyalties , surface rent, and other personal responsibilities to help the community people in difficult times.
He described the kind gesture of mining company and it is set to undertake a green underground mining that has nothing to do with the destruction of the flora and fauna of the ecolog.
He said the operations will not encourage any corbon or Co2 emmission , small foot prints in the forest and it will enhance local prosperity as a lot of community people will be employed.
He said to reduce the fear of community people with regards degradation of forest every year the company plants trees within the concession area . He said the concession area has been reduced to just over 32 Sqkm from 115 Sqkm
Jawara said the environment, health and social impact assessment operations has been done by a reputable consulting firm of this country and the report is now in the hands of the appropriate authorities.
An indigene of Bambawolo community who is also a member of the land owning family Chief Momoh lavished praises on the company saying that from colonial day; no company has been much better than the JM Mining Company. He said the company has recently paid surface rent to the land owning families and is also paying community teachers , nurses and has even constructed town Barry for the people for free .
Chief Momoh and other community stake holders are calling on government and EPA and Ministry of Mines to grant JM Mining Company a licence.