By: Lucinda J. Smith
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license to JM Mining Company Limited for its gold mining project in the Kambui Hills, Kenema District.
The license, approved on September 4, 2024, marks a significant development in the region’s mining activities, long awaited by the local community.
According to an official EPA letter, the board approved JM Mining Company Limited’s application for the EIA license after deliberation.
This approval is a victory for both the company and the local community, who have eagerly anticipated this move for years. JM Mining Company has developed the Bambawo community since 2017.
The company will meet with the EPA-SL Head Office in Freetown on September 10, 2024, to finalize the EIA license and monitoring fees.
The project is expected to generate significant employment and boost the local economy. However, concerns remain about environmental impact, which the EPA will closely monitor in the coming months.
