Sierra Leone’s mining sector marked a significant development on Thursday, 26th February 2026, as Sierra Rutile Holdings Limited (SRHL) formally commenced construction of its new Area 5 mining site in Sembehun, Bagruwa Chiefdom, Moyamba District.
The sod-turning ceremony drew senior government officials, traditional leaders, financiers, and community representatives, reflecting the national importance attached to the project. The event symbolised not only the start of a new mining site but also a broader shift in the country’s extractive industry.
Performing the groundbreaking was the company’s Chief Executive Chairman, Alhaji Dr. Mohamed Babatunde Cole, who described the project as a defining chapter in the company’s history. He recalled that for more than five decades, Sierra Rutile operated in the country under foreign ownership. However, following its acquisition by Leonoil Company Limited in October 2024, the company became the first fully Sierra Leonean-owned large-scale mining operation in the nation’s history.
Dr. Cole noted that the Area 5 expansion is expected to substantially increase production capacity and consolidate the company’s position in the global titanium feedstock market. A key component of the project, he revealed, is the relocation of the Kuale Mineral Sands Processing Plant from Kenya to Sierra Leone. The complex transfer and reinstallation process is being handled by CSL Overseas, which is overseeing the dismantling, shipment, and reconstruction of the facility.
To finance the expansion, the company has secured a US$70 million syndicated loan facility, including US$40 million from Ecobank Sierra Leone, with support from Ecobank Ghana. According to the company, the investment underscores strong financial sector confidence in the project’s viability.
Dr. Cole assured residents of Bagruwa Chiefdom that the mine is projected to operate for at least 14 years and will serve as a long-term development partner. He highlighted anticipated benefits such as employment opportunities, infrastructure growth, and sustained economic activity within the district.
Also addressing the gathering, the Director General of the National Mining Agency, Alhaji Hadji Daboh, described the launch as a transformative milestone rather than a ceremonial exercise. He emphasised that local ownership strengthens national control over natural resources and aligns with the government’s policy direction of adding value to minerals rather than relying solely on raw extraction.
Daboh disclosed that production from Area 5 is projected to reach approximately 175,000 tonnes of premium-grade rutile annually, a development expected to increase foreign exchange earnings, tax revenues, and employment opportunities in Moyamba District and beyond. He further indicated that improvements in roads, bridges, electricity, water systems, schools, and health facilities are anticipated to accompany the project’s implementation.
For his part, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius D. Mattai, described the ceremony as personally significant, reflecting on his early days working at Sierra Rutile decades ago before rising to head the ministry. He encouraged young people in host communities to see the mine as an opportunity for skills acquisition and professional growth in modern mining practices.
Minister Mattai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2023, stressing environmental sustainability, strict safety standards, and active community engagement. He made clear that economic expansion must be balanced with responsibility and ethical conduct.
Stakeholders at the ceremony collectively called for cooperation among government, company leadership, financiers, and local communities to ensure that the Area 5 project becomes a model for sustainable, locally driven mining development in Sierra Leone.
