Our goal is to make Marampa Blue™ an internationally recognised, premium grade iron ore brand

“Our goal is to make Marampa Blue, an internationally recognised premium iron ore brand”, Craig Dean, Chairman, SL Mining Limited.

“Our goal is to make Marampa Blue, an internationally recognised premium iron ore brand”, Craig Dean, Chairman, SL Mining Limited.

“Our goal is to make Marampa Blue, an internationally recognised premium iron ore brand”, Craig Dean, Chairman, SL Mining Limited.

 

The Marampa Project

The Marampa Project involves production of very high-grade iron ore concentrate with >65% Fe content. Estimated resources are currently approximately 1.7 billion tonnes of iron ore grading 32% Fe, with the geological potential for material increases.

Significant investments have already been made by Gerald Group through SL Mining (2017 – 2019) to reconfigure and reactivate the Project from its historically distressed status.

The Project, which successfully commissioned on 2 January 2019, producing high grade iron ore concentrate with >65% Fe, was put back into ‘care & maintenance’ in September 2019 due to a dispute with the Government of Sierra Leone (“the Government”). In May 2021, as part of an amicable out of court settlement, Marampa Mines Limited (“MML”) was formed wherein Gerald Group owns 90% interest, and the Government the remaining 10% interest.

MML will reactivate and develop the Project and will have an expanded concession that includes Marampa South and Marampa North. MML will initially produce Marampa Blue™ at a rate of 2.0Mtpa, expanding to 3.25Mtpa within 12 months. MML will also play an active role in strengthening the economic and social structure of the Lunsar region.

  • Produce among the highest-grade iron ore concentrate in the world, Marampa Blue™, with >65% Fe content, which together with a strong focus on operating costs will ensure a sustainable future for the mine and its stakeholders.
  • Build a resilient and long-life iron ore mine in Sierra Leone, and expand throughput and integrate mining, processing, logistics and marketing.
  • Play a responsible social and economic role and achieve a workforce comprising at least 90% Sierra Leoneans.
  • As production increases and as MML optimises plant parameters and product specifications, MML will link orebody to mining for global markets.
  • Key ESG focus: (i) sustainability, (ii) low C-footprint and climate change, (iii) promoting women in the workforce, (iv) education and (v) farming.

Marampa 2.0

Rehabilitation and commissioning of the plant targeting a sustained output of 2Mtpa of Marampa Blue™ – a high-grade iron ore concentrate using the latest technology.

June 2021

Restart of shipments

July – Dec 2021

Rehabilitation of plant and operations

Dec 2021

Plant commissioning

Jan 2022

First shipment of Marampa 2.0

Marampa 3.25

MML is positioned to achieve an integrated process of exploration, mining, processing, logistics and marketing.
– Iron ore production and processing is set to expand to 3.25Mtpa by the end of 2022.
– Continued investment and improvements by MML / Gerald Group in the Marampa Project.
– Manpower and other HR and CSR programmes including contribution to a Community Development Fund.

(Note: Manpower includes permanent employees, expatriates, contractors and suppliers.)

The Marampa Project is targeting significant growth in iron ore production in Sierra Leone.
Updates will be provided as the project reaches new milestones.