UNDERSTANDING EXTRACTIVES IN SIERRA LEONE: Interpretation of the Mines Law (Part 1)

In this Mines and Minerals Development Act 2021, unless the context otherwise requires -

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"affected community" means that group of people resident in an area that is or may reasonably be expected to be impacted by mineral activities and may, in respect of a licence activity, and may be more than one community;

"affiliate" means a person, individual, subcontractor, business associate or other legal entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or working with a holder;

"Agency" means the National Minerals Agency established under the laws of Sierra Leone to promote the development of minerals through the effective and efficient management of the administration and regulation of licences and minerals development in Sierra Leone;

"annual charge" means the annual charge payable by the holder;

"applicant" means for purposes of this Act, a person who submits the prescribed information under this Act and laws of Sierra Leone in order to obtain, renew, or otherwise modify licence rights authorised under this Act;

"arm's length" means a business deal in which buyers and sellers act independently, without one party influencing the other party;

"artisanal mining", means the intentional extraction of minerals in a licence area up to one hectare with depth up to 10 metres and shall not involve the use of mechanised earth-moving equipment;

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of NACE’s wider efforts to raise awareness and increase citizens’ knowledge on the new law on country’s extractives sector. This is a 13-part series that will bring you weekly dose of key terms the public should know as citizens of Sierra Leone.

NACE first emerged from the Diamond Area Community Development Fund in 2003 and later broadened its mandate and scope to become a coalition of National and International Organisations working on the extractives sector in Sierra Leone.