black rod20 Jul 2013 11:46
dont think this is abour gols and srx- think its more to do with illegal not licensed stripping of the waterfront areas as per this doc....
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources in concert with line Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government has slammed an immediate suspension on the illegal mining, trading and export of Zircon and Coltan in Sierra Leone.
The industrial and sand-based minerals mining operations being currently carried out in the country and in particular along the costal shores on Plantain Island, Shenge (Kagboro Chiefdom) and Conakri-Dee, are illegal according to a release from the Ministry."
http://news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_200523144.shtml
also another paper cites....a larger breakdown of whos who doing the illlegal stuff...
""Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources in concert with line Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government has slammed an immediate suspension on the illegal mining, trading and export of Zircon and Coltan.
The Industrial and sand-based minerals mining operations being currently carried out in the country and in particular along the costal shores on Plantain Island, Shenge (Kagboro Chiefdom) and Conakri-Dee, are illegal according to a release from the Ministry.
It adds that these operations are “of grave environmental concerns and dangerous to lives and properties, including the four newly constructed fishery jetties and other infrastructures” in the operation areas listed above.
The release states emphatically that it is consequent upon these environmental and infrastructural dangers that “the mining, trading and export of all industrial and sand-based minerals especially, Zircon and Coltan are suspended with immediate effect.”
The release went on to warn companies and other corporate entities known as engaged with these minerals namely;
the West African Zircon,
AAMR Artisanal and Community Corporation and
West African Fishing Company
.....to report to the National Minerals Agency (NMA) “in their own interest” in order to regularize their status in a responsible and regulated manner.
The Ministry warns strictly that defaulters will face the full force of the law.
http://awoko.org/2013/07/02/sierra-leone-illegal-trading-export-of-zircon-coltan-suspended/