By James Dumbuya
Ecobank Sierra Leone has signed a $25 million asset financing agreement with Meya Mining Company on the sidelines of the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference, the bank said on Tuesday, in a deal aimed at expanding mining operations in the West African nation.
The agreement, signed on the opening day of the annual mining conference, will finance key assets for Meya Mining, a Sierra Leone-based diamond producer, as it seeks to scale up production.
Ecobank said the financing underscores its commitment to supporting strategic sectors of Sierra Leone’s economy, particularly mining, which remains one of the country’s main sources of export earnings and foreign exchange.
Meya Mining operates the Tongo diamond project in eastern Sierra Leone. The company has been working to increase output and modernise operations following years of underinvestment in the sector.
Bank officials said the facility is expected to support job creation and boost local content participation, while contributing to economic growth through higher mining output.
Mining accounts for a significant share of Sierra Leone’s exports, though the sector has faced challenges including fluctuating global commodity prices, regulatory reforms and concerns over governance and transparency.
The Investing in African Mining Indaba, held annually in Cape Town, brings together mining companies, financiers and government officials to discuss investment opportunities across the continent.
Further details of the financing terms were not immediately disclosed.
