The Nationwide Airborne Geophysical Survey, a World Bank funded initiative, was launched by President Julius Maada Bio on Monday. The government said the initiative is geared towards ensuring accountability and transparency in the minerals sector and to enable it negotiates with investors for the benefit of its citizens.
Five aircrafts belonging to the geophysics service provider, Xcalibur, will spend the next four months flying at low altitude and collecting geo data that will then be processed for onward advice to the
government for appropriate policy decisions.
The project is part of a US$20m World Bank funding, which is the second phase of the Extractive Industries Technical Assistance Project (EITAP). EITAP 2 is designed to support the artisanal mining sector, increase geological knowledge and help strengthen governance of the mineral
sector.
Mustapha Gibril, Project Coordinator, EITAP 2, said the primary objective of the survey is to acquire adequate geological data that is required for profitable minerals development and the optimization of benefits from mineral deposits in the country.
“The mineral sector is challenged by huge gaps in deficiencies as a result of lack of a comprehensive geological data,” he said at the launching ceremony at the Lungi International Airport. He added that
through the survey, they will gain knowledge on types, quantities and distribution of mineral resources so as to ensure sustainable exploration and exploitation in the future.
President Bio, in his address, spoke about the importance of the survey, noting that it would position the country on the right footing to negotiate for win-win investment deals with credible investors. “The lack of geological data has severely constraint effective policy choices regarding the governance and management of the natural resources sector in Sierra Leone,” he said, adding that government cannot negotiate and allocate good concessions without a proper idea about the country’s mineral base.