1. Minerals Policy Assessment and Development Experiences from Sierra Leone

2. Agenda Introduction to Sierra Leone
Brief introduction to ASI and our role in Sierra Leone
Economic context and potential
Overview of Sierra Leone’s minerals sector and the role of artisanal mining
Governance arrangements
Current policy framework
Policy formulation issues
Policy implementation issues

3. Sierra Leone Small country in West Africa
Gained independence from Britain 1961
Abundant natural resources include rutile, diamonds, bauxite, gold, iron ore, platinum
Security and stability a major success following end of war in 2002

8. Introduction
Two-year DFID funded project in Sierra Leone to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Mineral Resources (MMR)
Purpose: To strengthen the efficiency and capacity of the MMR to achieve its mandate
Objective 1: Increase private sector investment
Objective 2: Increase government revenue
Activities include day-to-day management support, policy development, legal and regulatory reform, stakeholder communications

9. Economic context
Unit
2006
Value of exports
US$m
176.0
as % of total exports %
91.2
Public revenue
Le bn
28.7 (est)
as % of total domestic revenue
5.3
as % of GDP
0.7
Contribution to GDP
5.1
Estimated to be 150,000 to 300,000 artisanal miners (grassroot diggers)
In 2006 artisanal miners produced approximately 80% of the country’s diamonds

10. Potential Mining sector can serve as an engine of economic growth
Expect an extra GDP growth of 1.2% per year if supported by a growing mining sector
With new investment in the mining sector, GDP per capita can be 6% higher in five years than it would be without mining growth, and 17% higher by 2020
Increased government revenue can accelerate poverty reduction

11. However…..

13. Governance
MMR has the responsibility for regulating, managing and monitoring the minerals sector
Mines Division administers provisions and regulations of Mines and Minerals Act
Geological Survey Division is responsible for geological data collection and supervises prospecting and exploration activities
Gold and Diamond Office is responsible for evaluating precious minerals and charging export taxes

14. Sector overview Currently 130 non-artisanal licenses issued by MMR:
38 Prospecting (approximately 16 licenses are not for diamonds)
47 Exploration (approximately 12 licenses are not for diamonds)
35 Small Scale Mining (nearly all are related to alluvial diamond mining)
10 Large Scale Mining (5 are for diamonds, 2 stone quarrying,1 iron ore, 1 bauxite and 1 rutile)

15. Sector overview 2 Artisanal licenses:
2006: 2,184 licences
2007: 1,968 licences
Only available to Sierra Leoneans
Estimated to be 2,000 unlicensed
Exporter licenses: 9 (for alluvial diamonds)
Dealer licenses: 82 (for alluvial diamonds)
Supporters (must register with GME)
Artisanal licenses are not having the desired effect on the market

16. Policy framework
MMR’s mandate is “develop policies and programmes for the systematic and economic exploration of mineral resources”
Core Mineral Policy (CMP): Comprises 10 strategic objectives
CMP Vision: “The CMP will facilitate the creation of a fair and transparent business environment that will stimulate the development of a successful minerals sector”
Policy Measures Relating to Small Scale and Artisanal Mining and Marketing of Precious Minerals

17. CMP objective 6
Objective: “Improve the Regulation and Efficiency of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mines”
Principle: “The Government will regulate, monitor and administer artisanal and small-scale mining in a manner that will create open competition, continuity and security of tenure for license holders, and make it advantageous for the miners to work within the legal system and therefore minimise smuggling”.

18. Policy formulation issues
CMP was developed under previous government
CMP was developed outside of MMR
Overall CMP is a sound framework
Policy measures for SSM and artisanal has not been passed as government policy
2007 Strategic and Environment Assessment
Weak linkages with policy forums
Transition from administering processes to economic policy
SEA – sound recommendations, consistent with the CMP, but it is not an important for MMR

19. Policy implementation issues
Human capacity constraints
Financial capacity constraints
Decreasing donor support
Incentives
Political issues
Change in mindset from fire-fighting to strategic management
Director General
Overload on “champions”
Ongoing review of mineral rights by government task force
Role of civil society
Financial capacity constraints – MTAP, SRL
Political issues - MMOs
Review of mineral rights – looking at how to implement the CMP and implications on new Mines and Minerals Act

20. Thank you