Mining Intelligence and News
Sierra Leone

Sembehun Expansion Project

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Sembehun Expansion Project

Location: 29 km NW from Moriba Town, Sierra Leone

Project Contacts:

110 Wilkinson Road
Freetown
Sierra Leone

Contacts:

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StagePermitting
Commodities
  • Rutile
  • Ilmenite
  • Zircon
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotSembehun is home to one of the world’s largest and highest grade natural rutile deposits. During the First Quarter of 2023, work continued on the DFS, which was released post quarter end.

The DFS reinforces the strategic value of the project, and has confirmed that once funded and constructed, the project will significantly extend the Company’s mine life, materially lower its cost structure, leverage existing infrastructure, and generate significant long-term value.

The Environmental Protection Agency in Sierra Leone has approved the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA), associated Environmental, Social and Health Management Plan (ESHMP). The approval of the ESHIA and ESHMP is one of the major items required to proceed with the Sembehun project.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Leonoil Company Limited 100 % Indirect
Sierra Rutile’s principal activities are the operation and ongoing development of a multi-deposit mineral sands mining operation.

As of 23 September 2024, Leonoil Company Limited acquired over 90% of the shares in Sierra Rutile Holdings Limited at A$0.18 per share and commenced the compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Sierra Rutile Holdings Limited was removed from the Official List at the close of trading on Thursday, 3 October 2024, under Listing Rule 17.14, following the compulsory acquisition of its remaining securities by Leonoil Company Limited.

Contractors

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SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Sedimentary

Summary:

The Sierra Leonean rutile mineralisation is hosted within alluvial and fluvial sedimentary facies of the Bullom Group Sediments. Mineralisation has been derived by the erosion of quartzo-feldspathic gneiss of the Precambrian Kasila group during the Tertiary and redeposited in preincised channel systems and alluvial fans flanking topographically elevated areas of the Kasila Group. The host sediments are typically poorly sorted sandy clay and sandy clays. Rubbly surficial laterite development is prevalent through much of the Bullom Group but does not hinder mining.

If the leading edge of the Sembehun group of deposits is considered as a single mineralised entity then the width of the mineralisation is over 5000m. The deposits length varies from about 1000m to over 6000m. The deposits vary significantly in size from a few mt to over 150mt. In general the mineralisation is present from surface.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
Rutile Mineral kt 1752,155
Ilmenite Mineral kt 1,242
Zircon Mineral in concentrate kt 107

Operational metrics

Metrics
Hourly processing rate  ....  Subscribe
Annual ore mining rate  ....  Subscribe
Annual processing capacity  ....  Subscribe
Ore tonnes mined, LOM  ....  Subscribe
Tonnes processed, LOM  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2024 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Rutile USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Rutile USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2024 study / presentation.
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

CurrencyAverage
OP mining costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2024 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Closure costs $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Total OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Royalty payments $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Gross revenue (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
EBITDA (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
After-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 19, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 19, 2025

Aerial view:

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