African Mining March 2020 | Page 18

 MINE EXCURSION "Sierra Leone will become one of the top diamond producers in the world. Sierra Leone President Julius Bio (centre) wants to attract a new wave of foreign investors and mining companies to his country. of completing its underground decline and will be operational early in March 2020. Meanwhile, Jan Joubert, CEO of Meya Mining, another stalwart in the Sierra Leone mining industry, says a lot of new projects will now be fast tracked, because of the more detailed information available. Joubert believes that Sierra Leone will become one of the top diamond producers in the world. Smithson says Tongo, which has a mine life of about 18 years, is only utilising three of the 11 Kimberlite pipes present 16  African Mining  March 2020 on its mining area. The government of Sierra Leone is on a major drive to reform the economy, and to change perceptions about a country that has been backstage for so long. www. africanmining.co.za