A multi-billion dollar project is under way in Sierra Leone, where a 200km railway is being revived, linking the iron-ore mine at Tonkolili with the port of Pepel. Dawnus, a large civil engineering, building and construction company in Wales and the south of England is to build 50km of new line and refurbish 67km of the existing trackage. Over $US15m worth of equipment and materials has been shipped from Tilbury to Freetown, and the company has sent 30 of its UK employees to manage, engineer and supervise the works. This includes upgrading of the port. Dawnus are also employing over 160 Sierra Leoneans, including labourers, tradesmen, engineers and administrative staff. They have also sent training staff to the country to train 50 local operatives in using plant to European standards.
The $US24.5m rail construction entails extensive cut and fill operations, pioneering through swamps, extensive drainage operations including diversions, levees and the installation of numerous culverts, creating embankments, and excavating cuttings. The rail refurbishment civil package ($US5m) consists of removal of vegetation, widening and preparation of formation, laying of ballast and the stabilisation and reconstruction of embankments.
The quarry works ($US4.5m) consist of site clearance, drill-and-blast and process to ballast using crushing and screening equipment. This involves over 125,000t of ballast and 30,000t of concrete aggregate.
At Pepel, Dawnus is providing foundations for the new materials handling equipment as well as camp accommodation, cut/fill earthworks and demolition at the stockyard. The client is African Minerals Limited (AML).
The project is being delivered in line with a strict environmental and social management plan, ensuring compliance with all relevant government legislation and good practice.
PDF
Iam impressed to read about developments of the rail road in Sierra Leone.I was born,raised and educated in sierra leone. Finishe High school and also attended the maritime Academy in Ghana,worked at the only shipyard we have ,sierra leone ports Authority Marine dock yard, but now resides in the States.
I was opportune to attend the Aviation College in VA,USA and now work with the only higfhspeed train mechanical department in WASHINGTON,DC,that is serving the entire contry.
I will be more than willing to join the set of crews needed to commence such a project, Rail road in my beloved country Sierra Leone if giving the opportunity to do so,with the aim of developing our country. contact me on mail: sesay.kebbie@yahoo.com. Thanks and may God bless Sierra Leone.
Your Son, Kebbie Sesay.
Iam a Kenyan and have just read about your development of the rail road in sierra leone and i was interested. I was educated in Kenya, finshed my high school and attended Railway Training Institute and i did Certificate in Carriage and Wagon Examiner and Repair (rolling stock maintainance) Artisan.
I do work with our country Railways company Rift Valley Railways as a Rolling sock maintainance and a depot cleck and i would like to apply for an opportunity to your Farm to devote objective and discipline knowledge towards a career calling for creativity decision making and total dedication, in developing the country and the rail road. contact me on mail onesmaskit@yahoo.com. Thanks in advance God bless.
Your Onesmas Kithome.