Sierra Leone will review all of its mining agreements over the next three months, with implications for all foreign and local miners.
The review, prompted by newly-elected President Ernest Bai Koroma, aims to resolve disputes over awarded licenses, a legacy from the outgoing government.
"We inherited a situation in which two licenses were given for exploration or mining in one location. We have at least three or four such situations," Koroma told Reuters.
The World Bank will assist in the study, which Koroma says will give "a fair trial".
The review would affect companies such as Argyll Resources and the London Mining Company.
Koroma says the disputes, along with the fall-out from the civil war, have made it hard to attract investors.
"The sooner we get done with that the better for the mining industry. It will settle all of these little issues that are putting the whole activity on hold."
By staff writer
