PARTNER WITH US
A local partner that can sign, deliver and service
Entering an African mining market from abroad fails on the same things every time: no local entity, no workshop, no crews, no permits, no relationships. Starlight Minerals brings all five, in Sierra Leone directly and in four further countries through representatives.
Who we are looking for
- Mining-equipment manufacturers looking for sales, installation and service in our markets
- Engineering and processing-technology firms that need a local execution partner
- Investors and funds seeking a licensed counterparty for mining projects
- Licence holders looking for a partner to develop or operate their licence
- Refiners and trading houses seeking offtake with documented origin
What we bring
- Licensed entity
- A registered Sierra Leonean mining company with own licences, export permits and a named management.
- Workshop and field teams
- Fabrication, installation and repair in Freetown, mobile teams for the region.
- Market access
- Existing customers among licence holders, small-scale miners and cooperatives, plus representatives in four countries.
- Track record with manufacturers
- We already represent VACAT sp. z o.o. and Przedsiębiorstwo HYDROMEL sp. z o.o..
Five partnership models
Not every model is available for every project. Each opportunity states which models apply.
| MODEL | STARLIGHT CONTRIBUTES | PARTNER CONTRIBUTES | AGREED BEFORE START |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distribution and service partnership | Customer development, application support, import and customs coordination, installation, commissioning, warranty work, spares and operator training. | Products, technical documentation, factory training for our technicians, warranty support and supply terms. | Territory and product scope, competing brands, lead ownership, stocking and credit, warranty reimbursement, service-level targets. |
| Joint venture on a licence or project | Licence interest or a mandate from the holder, local execution, crews, workshop, permits and community agreements. | Capital, technology, management or development capability. | Ownership split, approvals, dilution, governance, milestones, liabilities and exit. |
| Offtake | Lawfully controlled production or supply rights, assay, chain-of-custody records and export permits. | Purchase commitment and, where agreed, pre-financing. | Assay and pricing formula, delivery point, security, shortfall and advance repayment. |
| Contract mining | Crew, supervision, operating systems and equipment, own or sourced through our manufacturer partners. | Defined scope, site access and payment security. | Quantities and measurement, mobilisation, fuel, equipment availability, performance risk. |
| Project development | Local coordination, exploration, licensing, site works, recruitment and commissioning. | Specialist engineering, equipment and capital. | Design responsibility, interfaces, procurement, commissioning and guarantees. |
Answers before the first call
- Territory
- Sierra Leone from the head office; Liberia, Mali, DR Congo and Madagascar through local representatives. Delivery capacity per country is described on the country pages.
- Exclusivity
- Open for discussion per product category and country after a pilot. We do not grant territory-wide exclusivity before a first period with agreed targets.
- Contracting entity
- Starlight Minerals [Ltd.], Freetown. In the representative countries the local representative acts under a mandate from Starlight; contracts are signed by Starlight unless agreed otherwise.
- Service
- Mechanical, hydraulic and electrical work in-house at the Freetown workshop and by field teams. Specialist work on imported machinery with OEM support or OEM-trained technicians.
- Warranty
- Starlight diagnoses and performs approved warranty repairs; the manufacturer approves and reimburses under agreed terms.
- Imports and customs
- Starlight coordinates shipping and clearance with a licensed broker; importer of record and taxes are agreed per country and contract.
- Stock and spares
- Wear parts stocked or fabricated in Freetown; OEM parts ordered or held on consignment as agreed.
- Finance
- Agency, resale or service-only models; credit limits and guarantees agreed per partner.
- Languages
- English in Sierra Leone and Liberia, French in Mali, DR Congo and Madagascar; German and Polish available for European partners [to be confirmed].
How engagement works
- 01
Fit assessment
You tell us products or projects, target countries and expectations. We answer within two working days whether and where it fits.
- 02
Mutual diligence
We exchange company documents, references and, under NDA, our capability pack. You verify our identity and licences; we check your products and terms.
- 03
Technical review
Our technicians assess service requirements, spares and training. For projects, we review the technical data and site.
- 04
Pilot
A limited scope: one product line or one country, agreed targets, a review point after six to twelve months.
- 05
Agreement and mobilisation
Contract, training, stock, marketing material, first customer visits or site works.
Three levels of disclosure: public information on this site; a capability pack, references and redacted authorisations for qualified prospects under NDA; full ownership, licence, contract and financial records in a controlled data room during diligence.
FAQ
Questions partners ask
You build wash plants yourselves and also sell other manufacturers’ machines. How do you handle the conflict?
Our workshop builds alluvial equipment up to a size we can fabricate and service locally. For crushing, milling, screening, flotation, conveying and underground machinery we rely on partners. We do not develop competing products in categories we represent, and customer leads for a represented product belong to that partner relationship.
Will you share our customer information with other suppliers?
No. Lead ownership and confidentiality are part of every distribution agreement. Competing brands in the same category are excluded unless both sides agree in writing.
Which manufacturers do you already represent?
VACAT sp. z o.o. (belt conveyors, winches, roadheaders, crushers, mills, screens, flotation, hydraulic power units) and Przedsiębiorstwo HYDROMEL sp. z o.o. (hydraulic cylinders, powered supports, steel structures), both from Poland.
Do you take on projects outside the five countries?
Only with a partner who has the local presence. Our own representatives cover Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, DR Congo and Madagascar.
CONTACT
Discuss a partnership
Tell us who you are, what you offer and which countries interest you.