Freetown: Leone Rock Metal Group has commissioned the Phase II expansion of its 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) magnetite processing plant at Ferengbaia, while also disbursing its fifth Community Development Agreement (CDA) Fund to mining communities. The new phase is expected to boost processing capacity, improve ore beneficiation, and increase national export earnings. The expansion supports job creation and aligns with the company's long-term push for greater value addition within Sierra Leone's mining sector. According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Daniel Mattai, speaking at the event, said the milestone reflects progress under President Julius Maada Bio's leadership. He noted that the commissioning of the second 10 MTPA magnetite plant part of Leone Rock's 30 MTPA vertical integration strategy, alongside the CDA disbursement, signals a clear shift toward in-country beneficiation, industrial value addition, and inclusive growth. The Minister pointed to c umulative CDA payments of NLe 141 million before the 2026 disbursement, calling this evidence of reforms under the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2023, which ensures mining revenues directly benefit host communities. He urged transparent and strategic use of CDA funds for education, healthcare, water supply, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. He also called for stronger coordination between the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Planning, local councils, and community structures. Highlighting ongoing projects, Mattai cited a health centre and staff quarters at Nerekoro, a multipurpose hall in Bumbuna, a hotel and multipurpose facility in Bendugu, plus investments in solar energy, medical equipment, water systems, and scholarships for over 360 university students. The Minister commended Leone Rock and its partners for maintaining integrated mining, rail, and port operations, and for employing over 8,000 Sierra Leoneans. He described the new plant as proof that Sierra Leone welcomes respo nsible investment focused on local content, technology transfer, and industrial transformation. Meanwhile, the company disbursed the fifth CDA tranche of Ninety-Nine Million, Forty-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Four Leones (NLe 99,045,404) to host communities. The fund supports community-led projects in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Community leaders welcomed the payment, describing the CDA as vital for ensuring mining benefits are shared equitably. They called for sustained transparency, accountability, and fair fund distribution among chiefdoms to maintain social cohesion. Government officials praised Leone Rock for following regulatory frameworks and aligning with national development priorities, reaffirming the state's commitment to a responsible mining sector built on partnership and shared prosperity. The dual event highlights a growing alignment between industrial expansion and community development, positioning Ferengbaia and the wider Tonkolili District as strategic hubs in Sierra Leone's evolving extractive sector.