The main minerals mined in Sierra Leone other than bauxite are diamonds, rutile, gold, iron and limonite, though diamond mining makes the highest revenue in the overall mining sector.
Diamond mining in Sierra Leone has been seen as one of the key factors for instability in the country and one of the reasons for the country's recent civil war.
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Sierra Leone's production of bauxite, an aluminium ore, is around 1% of the total global production. Deposits occur between Moyamba and Mano, on the Freetown Peninsular, at Krim-Kpaka in the Pujehun District, southern Sierra Leone; in the north on the road from Falaba to Waia, at Kamakwie and Makumre.
Sierra Minerals Holdings is the only company mining bauxite in the country and the second-largest employer in the mining industry. It runs the Sieromco Bauxite Mine as well as holding the mining lease to 321.7 km2.
Sierra Leone’s bauxite mining started well by creating plenty of jobs in the nation, but the gradual fall of global aluminium price and corruption in the country has been the major reason for the fall of bauxite export demand of Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone’s bauxite export has remained with only very few countries like China, Romania, Canada and Ukraine.
The total bauxite export during 2017-19 remained at 5.35 million tonnes and the revenue generated stood at $192.21 million. The projected figure for bauxite export during 2020 is estimated at 1.77 million tonnes and the revenue to be earned is $66.8 million. When added both volumes and earning during 2017-20 it shows respectively 7.12 million tonnes and $259.01 million.
In 2017 the volume of export reflected at 1.63 million tonnes, whereas the earnings stood at $61.44 million.
Sierra Leone’s bauxite export in 2018 rose by 22.08%, as the total volume of export showed at 1.99 million tonnes and the revenue earned reflected $68.24 million.
In 2019 the bauxite export had a decline of 13.06%, as the bauxite export recorded at 1.73 million tonnes, while the earning showed a deep fall and reflected at $62.53 million.
The estimation for 2020 remains positive, though the growth might be 2.31%, as the expected export can be recorded at 1.77 million tonnes, there is a high indication of revenue getting a rise and to be remaining at $66.80 million.
The government of Sierra Leone and with the help of ECOWAS countries can change the game of bauxite export of the nation as there is still heavy demand of the aluminium ore around the globe.
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