Maforki Chiefdom, Sierra Leone, 9th May, 2025 — In a groundbreaking development for Sierra Leone’s mining sector, President Julius Maada Bio on Friday commissioned a new seaport in Port Loko District, developed by CTC Mining Sierra Leone Ltd.—a company that is 50% Sierra Leonean-owned. The move is being hailed as a turning point in the country’s drive to localize ownership of critical infrastructure and ensure broader economic participation by its citizens.
The newly launched port in Maforki Chiefdom is designed to significantly enhance the export of bauxite, one of Sierra Leone’s most valuable mineral resources. With a projected annual capacity of 15 to 20 million metric tons, the facility is expected to boost national revenue streams while reducing dependency on external ports.
“This infrastructure will significantly enhance our bauxite exports, substantially boosting the country’s revenue stream,” President Julius Maada Bio tweeted on Friday. “We are committed to ensuring absolute transparency in the mining sector, which will foster credible and mutually beneficial investments.”
Built with the backing of CTC Mining in partnership with international shipping and mining investors, the port is part of a $200 million industrial investment. It is slated to become the largest port facility in Sierra Leone once fully operational.
Mr. Hisham Mackie, Chief Executive Officer of CTC Mining, explained that the company’s decision to construct and operate its own port was driven by a commitment to improving Sierra Leone’s trade infrastructure and fostering long-term partnerships to boost the country’s export capacity.
He noted that the new facility features a 32-kilometre dedicated haul road, a fully equipped export terminal, and forms part of an integrated logistics network developed through both national and international collaboration.
The project has already made notable contributions to the local economy. CTC Mining recently disbursed 2.3 billion old Leones in surface rent payments to the Maforki and Marampa chiefdoms and entered a landmark land lease agreement for a 32-kilometer haul road and port infrastructure.
This 50-50 ownership model emerges amid a broader continental push for African nations to claim a fairer share of their natural resource wealth. It stands as a forward-looking template for future mining ventures—one that champions transparency, sustainability, and inclusive economic growth.
The Sierra Leonean government has reaffirmed its commitment to strict oversight of the sector to ensure that investments are both credible and equitably beneficial.
