{"id":1765,"date":"2026-08-06T16:59:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T16:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daybreaknewspapersl.com\/?p=1765"},"modified":"2026-08-06T16:59:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T16:59:42","slug":"mmmr-nma-clarify-status-of-jm-mining-kenema-sl-ltd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daybreaknewspapersl.com\/?p=1765","title":{"rendered":"MMMR, NMA Clarify Status of JM Mining Kenema (SL) Ltd"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarification on <\/strong>the <\/strong>Status of JM Mining Kenema (SL) <\/strong>Limited<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) clarify that the Government of Sierra Leone did not revoke or withdraw a Large-Scale Mining Licence from JM Mining Kenema (SL) Limited, because no such licence had been issued. Consistent with standard licensing procedures, the company received only a conditional offer of mineral rights, which lapsed after JM Mining failed to meet the statutory requirements for acceptance and payment within the prescribed timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A conditional offer is not a licence. Under the applicable statutory process, a Large-Scale Mining Licence can be granted only after an applicant formally accepts the offer in writing and pays all prescribed statutory fees within the required period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 23 January 2025, following a recommendation by the Minerals Advisory Board, JM Mining received a conditional offer approved by the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources. Section 108(5) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act requires an applicant to accept such an offer in writing and settle the prescribed statutory fees before a licence may be granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Facts: Due Process and Repeated Opportunities to Comply<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial <\/strong>support and institutional guidance<\/strong>:<\/strong> The Government actively supported JM Mining\u2019s proposed project before the offer lapsed. The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Minerals Agency provided guidance to help the company meet the requirements for an environmental licence and the offer of a mineral right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extended <\/strong>payment window<\/strong>:<\/strong> At JM Mining\u2019s request, the NMA delayed issuing the statutory payment demand after the initial offer to allow the company additional time to secure financing. Official Orders to Pay were issued on 24 July 2025, requiring payment within 30 days of $1,000,000 in licence fees and $100,000 in monitoring fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repeated defaults:<\/strong> JM Mining then missed several payment deadlines and repeatedly acknowledged non-payment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initial payment deadline expired on 23 August 2025, without payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a demand from the National Revenue Authority (NRA) on 28 October 2025, JM Mining requested an extension to 31 December 2025. This self-requested deadline passed without payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 29 January 2026, the company requested a new Order to Pay, acknowledging that it had not honoured the previous orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 30 January 2026, after 372 days from approval of the conditional offer and 190 days from issuance of the payment orders\u2014far beyond the statutory 30-day requirement\u2014the Minister formally confirmed that the conditional offer had lapsed and was rescinded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written <\/strong>Admissions<\/strong> of Default<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ministry and NMA confirm that JM Mining acknowledged its default in writing on three separate occasions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. On 31 October 2025, JM Mining wrote to the NRA Commissioner-General acknowledging overdue licence and monitoring fees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. On 15 January 2026, JM Mining wrote to the Director of Mines acknowledging fee defaults dating back to 24 August 2025.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. On 29 January 2026, JM Mining wrote to the Director of Mines requesting a new Order to Pay because the previous payment obligations had not been met.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Government <\/strong>Commitment<\/strong> to Fair <\/strong>and Consistent <\/strong>Standards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Ministry and NMA affirm that the decision was neither arbitrary nor hostile to foreign investment. It was reviewed by the Minerals Advisory Board and carried out in accordance with statutory procedures, with each step documented in official records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Waiving $1.1 million in statutory fees for one entity would undermine regulatory integrity, weaken equal treatment under the law, and disadvantage operators that comply with Sierra Leone\u2019s mining requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sierra Leone\u2019s<\/strong> mineral resources belong to the people of Sierra Leone<\/strong> and<\/strong> will be entrusted <\/strong>only <\/strong>to those who meet their obligations under the law.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Media & Official Inquiries:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources: +232 72 003535<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    National Minerals Agency (NMA): +232 79 250702<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    New England Ville<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Freetown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    PRESS RELEASE Clarification on the Status of JM Mining Kenema (SL) Limited The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) clarify that the Government of Sierra Leone did not revoke or withdraw a Large-Scale Mining Licence from JM Mining Kenema (SL) Limited, because no such licence had been issued. Consistent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nMMMR, NMA Clarify Status of JM Mining Kenema (SL) Ltd - Daybreak Newspaper<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/daybreaknewspapersl.com\/?p=1765\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MMMR, NMA Clarify Status of JM Mining Kenema (SL) Ltd - Daybreak Newspaper\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"PRESS RELEASE Clarification on the Status of JM Mining Kenema (SL) Limited The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) clarify that the Government of Sierra Leone did not revoke or withdraw a Large-Scale Mining Licence from JM Mining Kenema (SL) Limited, because no such licence had been issued. 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