CASE STUDY : INVESTMENT IN IRON ORE PROJECT, SIERRA LEONE
BACKGROUND
- Community emerging from long term civil war
- Government adopts investor friendly environment in attempt to create wealth, exploit resources and generate revenue within traumatised communities, and invites foreign investors to invest in Sierra Leone and participate in wealth creation
- Australian resource company identifies iron ore resource at Marampa and embarks on project analysis ahead of the projected deployment of expatriate technical staff
- Continuing concern about stability of country, residual trauma from civil war
CLIENT REQUIREMENTS
- Communication with national leadership to determine the state of the national investment climate and to understand any pre-investment threats
- Reconnaissance of regional environment ahead of deployment of international staff and recruitment of local personnel to project administrative HQ in Lunsar (Port Loko division)
- Consultation with local Member of Parliament, Community leaders, local community members, and Police/Military regional and local commanders
- Analysis of the historical causes of the civil conflict and an assessment of the likelihood of any resumption of disorder
PROJECT OUTCOMES
- Effective engagement with leaders at all levels (National Regional and local) to communicate investor intent
- Confirmation of Government philosophy towards the encouragement of investment into the resources sector
- Successful identification of influential and respected local community leaders
- Deployment of expatriate management team and technical staff to Sierra Leone
- Identification of resource ahead of potential IPO