Nimba County – Solway, a company doing mining exploration in Zolowee Town Nimba County has broken grounds for an irrigation system that would provide access to safe drinking water for residents of the company operational areas and surrounding communities.
The ceremony happened over the weekend, was attended by residents of the areas who are mostly indigenous of affected areas. Addressing residents of the area, Madam Ma. Zoe Avery, who is the government relation officer for Solway Mining INC. said the company aim is to help provide Safe drinking water to citizens in the affected Communities and help to improve their living conditions.
She disclosed of the company’s plans to address some of the basic social needs of residents of the affected Communities which includes; skills training and jobs opportunities for Nimbaians and Liberian through the provision of live saving agriculture activities.
“We are very pleased to report that our planned investment shall be More than 90 million united state dollars in Mining development in the near future as our drilling phase rolls to an end we have enter our Mineral Development Agreement negotiation stage.
“Mining development plans shall involves lots of Nimba citizens with up to One thousand direct jobs and about two thousand indirect jobs.
According to her, the company plan to benefits over five thousand persons with a ratio of five per household with roughly ten thousand indirect individuals that would benefit from its commercial Mining development and operations. “Solway is proudly Liberian own and we operate With a Strong conviction and determined Vision to fully take over the Mining industry.”
Madam Avery also informed citizens of Nimba County that Solway is here to partner with the government of Liberia to guarantee the employment deficit citizens of the company have over the years complained about by taking concrete steps to promote the pro- poor Agenda for prosperity and development.
” We are gathered here today, firstly to officially launch the commencement of Solway funding for the community- related education and health projects, using the Two percent of Solway Exploration budget and Secondly we are also breaking ground for the Zolowee Town water supply system she added”.
Also speaking at the ceremony was district #2 and #8 Representatives Prince Tokpah and Larry Younquoi. They thanked the Solway Mining INC. and expressed optimism that the investment could improve the living conditions of affected Communities.
The two lawmakers also expressed disappointment and frustrations in Arcelor Mittal Mining Company for not been able to provide citizens including their workers and staffers safe drinking water but rather to input Safe drinking water for them.
For their parts Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Mr. Richard Mantenokay Tingban and County inspector Mack Gblinwon thanked Solway Mining INC for such developmental Program which they said the company is helping government to achieve her development goals.
They also pledge government support toward the Solway Mining INC.
At the same time the Chief of Zolowee Town Peter Zuwuh extended thanks for the level of developmental activities Solway Mining INC is currently undertaking to impact the lives of Nimbaians mainly those in the affected Communities.