According to the company, following two months of unsuccessful engagement with the government, they challenged the suspension at the International Chamber of Commerce(ICC) in London where an Emergency Arbitration Final Order was awarded two weeks ago.
The order, they said is compelling the government of Sierra Leone to lift the export ban and allow SL Mining to continue exporting and shipping its product and ensure full operations resume.
Few days ago, some workers with placards were out of the mining site in Lunsar, Portloko District demanding that the government and SL Mining resolve the issue so that they will not go out of job.
The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and National Minerals Agency has refused to comment on the issue when contacted by this medium.
SL Mining says they are committed to Marampa, the surrounding communities and Sierra Leone as a whole but will also continue to defend their rights legally.
“Even in these dire situations, SL Mining is and will continue to do everything in its power to defend its rights legally by all means possible in order to resume operations, discuss the impasse with the government when they are ready to properly meet and resolve it and eventually resume normal operations.”
A letter from the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources on July 3rd 2019 suspended the operations of SL Mining accusing the company of not paying royalties and citing other legal issues that needs to be addressed.
SL Mining which made only three exports of iron ore from Sierra Leone this year, has since denied the claims of the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources.