Chinese-owned iron ore giant opens recruitment drive as operations at Africa’s second-largest iron ore mine continue to expand.
KINGHO Mining Company Limited, the Chinese-owned large-scale iron ore mining firm operating Sierra Leone’s Tonkolili Iron Ore Project under its Leone Rock brand, has announced fresh vacancies for Heavy Vehicle (HV) Operators at its mine site in Tonkolili District, Northeastern Sierra Leone.
The recruitment notice, circulating widely across the country, invites qualified Sierra Leoneans to apply for positions involving the operation of wide-body dump trucks, trailers, excavators, and loaders used to transport equipment and iron ore materials across one of West Africa’s most strategically significant mining sites.
The Tonkolili iron ore mine is Africa’s second-largest iron ore mine and one of the largest magnetite deposits globally, with an estimated operational period of more than 60 years. The scale of that operation makes the need for experienced, safety-conscious heavy vehicle operators not merely an administrative exercise, but a critical pillar of the mine’s productivity.
According to the vacancy announcement, successful candidates will be expected to operate heavy machinery safely, follow dispatching instructions, conduct pre-operation, on-road, and post-operation equipment inspections covering tyres, brakes, lights, and hydraulic systems and report faults promptly to supervisors. Operators will also be required to maintain accurate trip logs, comply with mine site safety regulations and local traffic laws, coordinate with excavator and loader teams during loading and unloading, and participate in scheduled safety and skills training sessions.
Candidates must hold at minimum a Junior Secondary School certificate, possess basic literacy in English, and carry a valid Category C driver’s licence. The company is requiring a minimum of five years of hands-on experience operating wide-body dump trucks, trailers, excavators, or loaders. Applicants must also demonstrate familiarity with daily equipment inspections, basic fault diagnosis, and routine maintenance. Physical fitness is a stated requirement the company specifies normal vision and hearing, with no colour blindness or medical conditions that could impair driving.
The notice also states explicitly that no major traffic accident record or serious disciplinary violation will be tolerated, and that successful operators must adhere strictly to no-fatigue and no-drunk driving rules.
In a notable addition, the company has made anti-corruption compliance a public statement, declaring that bribery, gift-taking, and all forms of favouritism or misconduct during the recruitment process are strictly forbidden and providing a dedicated hotline, 09619136, for reporting any violations by company personnel.
Incorporated on August 21, 2019, Kingho Mining Company Limited formally took over the Tonkolili project from the Sierra Leone Government on September 23, 2020, following the exit of previous operator Shandong Iron and Steel Group. Full-scale operations at the mine commenced on March 6, 2021, after the company acquired its large-scale mining licence and took over the site from the Government of Sierra Leone.
The first shipment of iron ore from the mine under Kingho’s ownership took place in January 2021. The company operates through a group structure that includes Kingho Railway and Port Company now trading as Leone Rock Metal Group — which administers the 192-kilometre rail corridor running from the Tonkolili mine to the Pepel shipping port in Port Loko District.
KMC specialises in the production of 57% grade Direct Shipping Ore, jigging ore, and 62% grade concentrate fines, supplying iron ore to international markets primarily through the Pepel port facility.
Read Also: Over 20 Local Miners Nabbed in Leone Rock’s Operational Areas!
The company has consistently advertised job opportunities published by leading newspapers across the country, targeting suitable and qualified Sierra Leoneans for various positions across its operations.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates are directed to submit their CVs and copies of relevant certificates to: kmc-hr@khgroupsl.com
The company has stated that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
