JM Mining Company Exposed
By Kadiatu Sankoh
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA), has clarified that JM Mining Kenema (SL) Limited never held a Large-Scale Mining Licence, contrary to claims that its licence was withdrawn.
In a statement titled “Setting the Record Straight,” the Government explained that while the company received a conditional approval for a Large-Scale Mining Licence on 23 January 2025, it failed to meet the legal requirements necessary for the licence to be issued.
According to the Ministry, the company was required under Section 108(5) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act to formally accept the offer in writing within 30 days and pay statutory fees totalling US$1.1 million before the licence could be granted. The required payment comprised US$1 million in licence fees and US$100,000 in monitoring fees.
The Government noted that despite the legal 30-day deadline, the National Minerals Agency delayed issuing the payment demand for approximately six months to give the company time to secure financing. Payment orders were eventually issued on 24 July 2025, but the company failed to settle the fees within the stipulated period.
The statement further disclosed that after the 30-day payment deadline expired on 23 August 2025, the National Revenue Authority issued a formal payment demand on 28 October 2025. JM Mining subsequently requested an extension until the end of December 2025 but still failed to make the required payment. On 29 January 2026, the company requested a new payment order, acknowledging that the original one had not been honoured.
Consequently, on 30 January 2026, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources confirmed that the conditional licence offer had lapsed and was rescinded, effectively closing the application.
The Government emphasized that no mining licence was ever issued, and therefore no licence was withdrawn.
The statement also highlighted the Government’s efforts to support the company throughout the licensing process. These included direct intervention by the Minister of Mines to help resolve an environmental dispute involving the Environment Protection Agency, meetings with the company’s Chief Executive Officer, formal correspondence with the Minister of Environment, and instructions to the National Minerals Agency to provide guidance during the application process.
Additionally, the Minerals Advisory Board reviewed the application and recommended approval before the conditional offer was made.
The Government also cited three separate letters written by the company’s Chief Executive Officer admitting that JM Mining had failed to pay the statutory licence and monitoring fees and requesting additional time or a new payment order.
Rejecting claims that the decision was arbitrary or that Sierra Leone is hostile to foreign investors, the Government maintained that all applicants are subject to the same legal requirements and that granting exceptions would be unfair to compliant investors.
Reaffirming its commitment to responsible investment, the Government stated that Sierra Leone remains open to serious and law-abiding investors in the mining sector while stressing that the country’s mineral resources will only be entrusted to companies that fulfil their legal obligations.
The Ministry added that all statements contained in the clarification are supported by official correspondence and records held by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency, with a full documented chronology available.