The Environmental Protection Agency Sierra Leone has secured a record-breaking USD 26.2 million in financial guarantees from 11 mining companies to support mine rehabilitation and environmental restoration across the country.
Announcing the milestone, EPA Executive Chairman Abu Bakar S. Massaquoi described the achievement as the largest amount ever secured by the agency for environmental protection purposes. He said the move represents a major step toward responsible mining and stronger protection of Sierra Leone’s land, rivers, forests, and local communities.
According to the EPA, the guarantees will compel mining companies to rehabilitate mining sites after operations cease, helping to reduce long-term environmental degradation. The funds are also expected to protect vital water sources, forests, and farmlands that many rural communities rely on for survival and economic activities.
The initiative is being viewed as a significant boost for accountability within Sierra Leone’s extractive sector, bringing the country closer to international best practices in environmental governance and sustainable mining.
Mining remains one of Sierra Leone’s key economic drivers, but years of extraction activities have left serious environmental scars in several communities. By securing the financial guarantees, the EPA is signaling a tougher stance on environmental compliance and sustainable resource management.
Observers say the landmark achievement could further enhance Sierra Leone’s international reputation as a nation seeking to balance economic growth with environmental protection and responsible mining practices.