The mineral miner, Sierra Rutile, has said that it is moving on with its operations despite Saturday’s fire incident at its warehouse.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the company confirmed that it has mounted an investigation into the cause and extent of the fire outbreak.
The incident which occurred between the hours of 1pm and 2pm, affected the miner’s warehouse situated at a place called Plant Site in Mobimbi, Bonthe District.
“At this point, Sierra Rutile is yet to establish the cause of the fire. The fire was extinguished through the efforts of the company’s Fire Force team at mine site,” the statement issued by its Corporate Affairs Department states. “There were no reported injuries,” it adds.
Sierra Rutile, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian sand miner Iluka Resources, is one of the largest players in Sierra Leone’s mining sector. The company has operated in the country since the1971 under different ownership, producing rutile, ilmenite and zircon from what is considered as the world’s largest natural rutile deposit in the districts of Bonthe and Moyamba.
Sources familiar with Saturday’s incident told ManoReporters that the fire is believed to have come from outside the warehouse.
The facility is said to be holding some of the most critical components needed for the operation of the mine, including spare parts for machines and heavy vehicles.
But the company, in its statement, says it can’t make any further comment at this point on either the cause, extent of the damages, nor its impact on its operations.
“Whilst the day-to-day operations continue, the company would convey to the general public any further relevant information as and when necessary,” it says.
