Marampa Mines Limited said on 22 October 2026 that it was preparing a temporary suspension of operations near Lunsar in northwestern Sierra Leone after formally notifying the minister of mines and mineral resources.
The company blamed weak market conditions, high freight and operating costs and technical challenges weighing on the site’s viability. It described the move as the next phase of its Marampa Reset restructuring programme launched in September.
The production wind-down timetable still depends on regulatory requirements and site readiness. Marampa Mines plans to retain a minimum workforce to preserve its licence, maintain safety and essential power, monitor tailings and water, protect the environment and carry out necessary maintenance.
Management is preparing a controlled shutdown plan and has asked employees to continue following their work schedules until further notice. Staff directly affected are to be informed by their manager and human resources. The company has disclosed no precise shutdown or restart date, number of jobs affected or production volume at risk.
The company says it integrates mining, processing and export logistics for a 65% iron ore concentrate sold under the Marampa Blue brand.