Sierra Leone

Candidate country Hidden:  Not Hidden Sierra Leone's EITI website Overview of Extractive Industries Sierra Leone is rich in mineral resources. Diamonds, gold, bauxite, rutile, and iron ore are known to exist in large quantities, although geological studies have not yet mapped all the country's terrain, and may reveal additional mineral deposits. The rise of mineral prices in recent years has led to strong interest by international mining companies in Sierra Leone, resulting in a surge of new mining licenses and exploration. The mining sector now contributes about 30% of the country's GDP, though the vast majority of this is artisanal, and is still illegal.  There is also evidence of offshore oil and gas though this is, as yet, unexploited. Mining is a focus of the reform agenda, and a review of mining contracts is being undertaken. The government is considering establishing a diamond-cutting and polishing industry in order to add value to exports. Status of EITI Implementation On 9 June 2011 the Board renewed Sierra Leone candidacy status and set a new validation deadline for 9 December 2012. The first report was published in March 2010. The SLEITI Validation Report was completed in August 2010. Sierra Leone announced its intention to implement EITI in the mining sector in June 2006. A steering committee was established including industry, government and civil society and an official launch of the Sierra Leone EITI was held in June 2007.  A workplan was agreed by the steering committee in February 2008. Sierra Leone was accepted as an EITI candidate country on 22 February 2008.In March 2011 the International Board renewed  Sierra Leone's candidate status and set a validation deadline for 9 December 2012.  Governance of EITI Implementation The members of the steering committee include 6 Ministries and Government agencies, parliament, civil society, trade unions, the Chamber of Mines, and the media. Champion of the SEITI Dr. Kaifala Marah Chief of Staff in the Office of the President SEITI National Coordinator Mr Kenei LaminEmail: keneilamin [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk  Companies operating* Oil & gas companies: Repsol*, Woodside*, Tullow oil, Anadarko Mining companies: Trivalence Mining, Target Resources, West African Diamonds, Sierra Rutile Ltd (owned by Titanium Resources Group)* EITI Supporting Company * Note: Company list based on EITI research and is not conclusive For further information, please contact Francisco Paris in the EITI International Secretariat.

Dr Peter Eigen, Chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), will visit Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria this week to recognise and encourage the progress being made towards the EITI standard.  Like so many in the region, these countries are characterised by violence, corruption and poverty, as well as an abundance of natural resources.  This paradox is often called the resource curse.  To help address this paradox, each of the countries has committed itself to implement the EITI, which provides a framework and a standard for improving the gov