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The Sierra Leone Railways Development and Regulatory Authority (SLRDRA) has held a high-level stakeholder consultation to review its Draft Railway Regulatory Framework, a move aimed at strengthening governance, safety, and regulation within the country’s growing railway sector.
The consultation brought together representatives from government institutions, regulatory bodies, private railway operators, and development partners to assess the draft framework before it is submitted to Cabinet and Parliament for approval.
The framework comes amid renewed investment in Sierra Leone’s railway infrastructure, including the proposed Mines-Port Railway Project linking Tonkolili North Kasafoni to Banana Island, existing mining railway concessions, and other planned railway transport systems.
Speaking at the meeting, SLRDRA Deputy Director General George Simeon Songu said stakeholder input was essential to ensuring the framework addresses national priorities while aligning with international best practices. He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to developing an inclusive and practical regulatory system to support railway modernisation.
Director of Railway Safety and Regulations Engineer Albert Sovula outlined SLRDRA’s mandate, including regulating railway and cable car services, issuing operating licences, investigating railway incidents, and enforcing compliance under the Sierra Leone Railway Development Act of 2025.
Other presentations highlighted proposed technical and operational standards, strategic planning, licensing, institutional partnerships, and environmental safeguards, including mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments for railway projects.
Stakeholders welcomed the draft framework, describing it as a timely step towards improving safety, operational efficiency, investor confidence, and the country’s logistics network. Representatives from Kingho Rail and Port, the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning pledged support for effective implementation.
SLRDRA will incorporate recommendations from the consultation before submitting the final framework to the Minister of Transport and Aviation for Cabinet approval and subsequent presentation to Parliament.
The Authority said the framework is expected to provide the regulatory certainty needed to attract future railway investments while supporting the development of a modern, safe, efficient, and internationally compliant railway system in Sierra Leone.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/19DDVLGwbk/
