Monrovia – The Minister of Mines and Energy, R. Matenokay Tingban, has alarmed over the growing threat illicit mining poses to the country’s development drive, stating that ‘We are losing billions’ to illicit miners.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Presenting the status of the mining and environmental sectors before a Joint Committee of the House of Representatives comprising the Committees on Mines and Natural Resources, Environment, Hydrocarbon, and Judiciary, Minister Tingban says the practice remains a major danger to Liberia’s economy, environment, public health, and national security.
The engagement forms part of ongoing legislative review and consultations on matters affecting the mining sector and related regulatory frameworks.
He pointed out that illegal mining activities have reached alarming proportions, fueled by the unauthorized use of heavy machinery, environmental pollution, mineral smuggling, and weak enforcement mechanisms.
His presentation also followed recent nationwide compliance and inspection exercises conducted jointly by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and other key government institutions aimed at assessing illegal mining operations and their environmental impacts across several counties.
“Liberia’s mineral resources belong exclusively to the Republic under Article 22(b) of the 1986 Constitution, making it the government’s constitutional responsibility to regulate and protect the country’s mineral wealth from illegal exploitation,” said the Minister.
He reminded lawmakers that the Ministry of Mines and Energy, established in 1972, serves as the government’s principal institution responsible for overseeing mineral resource development, while the Mineral and Mining Law of 2000 remains the primary legal framework governing the sector.
Surge in Illegal Mining
Minister Tingban told lawmakers that illicit mining and mineral smuggling have become one of the country’s most pressing governance challenges, particularly within Liberia’s artisanal and small-to-medium-scale mining sector.
He explained that what was once largely subsistence mining has gradually evolved into semi-industrial mining operations, driven by an increasing influx of foreign participants working alongside local actors without obtaining the legally required licenses from the Ministry.
According to him, many of these operators openly engage in mining activities and subsequently smuggle minerals out of the country, thus depriving the government of much-needed revenue while exploiting Liberia’s natural resources with little or no accountability.
The Minister questioned how large excavators and other heavy-duty mining equipment are able to enter mining communities and begin operations without presenting valid government authorization.
He disclosed that compliance and enforcement teams have repeatedly encountered resistance and interference from some local authorities and traditional leaders whenever attempts are made to halt illegal mining activities.
The Mines and Energy Minister warned that such interference has not only undermined law enforcement efforts but has also increased the likelihood of violent confrontations between illegal miners and affected communities, as well as conflicts within communities themselves.
Heavy Equipment Destroying the Environment
Minister Tingban expressed grave concern over the increasing use of excavators and dredging machines by illegal miners, noting that these machines are causing widespread environmental degradation throughout mining communities.
He explained that excavators have become one of the greatest threats to Liberia’s ecosystems because operators rarely reclaim degraded land after mining activities cease.
According to the Minister, illegal excavator operations have accelerated deforestation, destroyed wildlife habitats, increased soil erosion and polluted nearby rivers and streams through excessive sedimentation.
He further noted that many of the mining sites lack even the most basic occupational safety measures, exposing workers to dangerous conditions that frequently result in injuries and accidents.
The Minister also highlighted the growing use of dredging machines in river systems, warning that they significantly increase water pollution by disturbing riverbeds and destroying aquatic ecosystems upon which surrounding communities depend for drinking water, fishing and agriculture.
Mercury Poses Serious Public Health Risk
A significant portion of the Minister’s presentation focused on the widespread use of mercury during gold processing, which he described as one of the most dangerous environmental and public health threats facing Liberia’s mining sector.
He warned lawmakers that miners, nearby residents, pregnant women and children face serious health risks when exposed to mercury vapors released during the smelting process.
“Mercury, is a powerful neurotoxin capable of causing chronic tremors, impaired vision, loss of coordination, memory loss and severe deterioration of the central nervous system following prolonged exposure.”
The Minister cautioned that unborn children are particularly vulnerable because mercury can pass through the placenta, potentially causing irreversible neurological damage, cognitive impairment and reduced intellectual development.
Long-term exposure, he added, can also damage the kidneys, digestive system and immune system, leaving victims with permanent health complications.
Beyond its effects on humans, Minister Tingban said mercury continues to contaminate Liberia’s rivers and streams, poisoning fish and other aquatic organisms.
He explained that microorganisms convert mercury into methylmercury, an even more toxic substance that accumulates throughout the food chain—from microscopic organisms to large fish eventually consumed by humans.
As a result, communities that rely heavily on fish and livestock may unknowingly suffer continuous mercury poisoning even if they are not directly involved in mining activities.
Mining in Protected Areas
The Minister indicated that illegal mining activities are increasingly being detected inside protected forest areas.
However, he clarified that while the Ministry of Mines and Energy is responsible for issuing mining licenses, it does not have jurisdiction over protected areas and therefore does not issue mining licenses for operations within those zones.
He stressed that such activities constitute unauthorized mining and require coordinated interventions involving multiple government institutions.
Weak Laws Hindering Enforcement
Minister Tingban acknowledged that the Ministry continues to face significant obstacles in enforcing mining regulations across the country.
Among the major challenges identified were inadequate logistics, limited manpower, persistent interference from local actors and weaknesses within Liberia’s legal framework.
According to him, the current Mining Law does not provide sufficient criminal penalties because violations are not fully incorporated into the Penal Code.
He also argued that Liberia’s Whistleblower Act provides inadequate incentives for individuals to report mineral smuggling and other illegal mining activities, making it more difficult for authorities to obtain actionable intelligence.
Government Strengthening Response
Despite these challenges, the Minister outlined several interventions currently being pursued to strengthen compliance and enforcement.
He informed lawmakers that government agencies are increasing inter-agency collaboration to improve monitoring and enforcement activities nationwide.
Among the most significant recent developments, he highlighted Executive Order No. 167 establishing the Protect Our Resources Taskforce (PORT).
This, he asserted, the task force is expected to strengthen institutional coordination, improve compliance, safeguard government revenues and significantly reduce the illicit exploitation of Liberia’s mineral resources.
For the longer term, the Minister proposed exploring the privatization of certain enforcement mechanisms through a performance-based model under which qualified private entities would receive a percentage of recovered revenues or fines generated from successful enforcement actions.
He said such a system could improve operational efficiency by creating stronger performance incentives while enabling government to leverage modern technologies, including drones, satellite surveillance and digital mineral tracking systems.
The approach, he argued, could also reduce government’s upfront enforcement costs by tying payments directly to measurable performance outcomes.
Minister Tingban described illicit mining as a national challenge requiring urgent and coordinated action from all branches of government.
He urged lawmakers to support stronger inter-agency collaboration, increased technical, financial and logistical support for compliance operations, reduced interference from local actors, enhanced incentives for whistleblowers and comprehensive amendments to Liberia’s Mining Law to ensure that illegal mining and mineral smuggling offenses are prosecutable under the Penal Code.
The Minister emphasized that without stronger laws, improved enforcement and sustained political commitment, Liberia risks continued environmental degradation, significant revenue losses and the depletion of natural resources that constitutionally belong to all Liberians.
EPA Craves Stronger Action Against Illegal Mechanized Mining
Also presenting before House Joint Committee on Mines and Natural Resources, Environment, Hydrocarbon and Judiciary, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, craved the House to strengthen legislative and policy measures to combat illegal mechanized mining.
Like Minister Tingban, the EPA boss also warned that the growing use of excavators, dredges and hazardous chemicals poses serious threats to Liberia’s environment, public health and economy.
He disclosed that a recent nationwide monitoring by the EPA revealed widespread illegal mining activities, including deforestation, river pollution, mercury contamination, and mining without environmental permits.
The Agency called for stronger inter-agency collaboration, increased funding for environmental enforcement, a national registry for excavators and dredges, stricter regulation of hazardous chemicals, and support for Executive Order No. 167 establishing the Protect Our Resources Taskforce (PORT). The EPA also recommended a temporary moratorium on the movement and deployment of mining equipment until effective registration and tracking systems are in place.
Liberia Chamber of Mines Wants Comprehensive Review of Mining Law
Mr. Amara Kamara, President of the Liberia Chamber of Mines, urged the House of Representatives to undertake a comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Law rather than approving a limited amendment focused solely on Class-B Mining Licenses.
He explained that while the institution supports reforms to strengthen governance and responsible mining, the proposed amendment requires broader consideration.
The Chamber stressed that Liberia should first complete a nationwide geological survey and modernize the entire mining law to address taxation, environmental protection, regulatory oversight, strategic and critical minerals, local content, revenue transparency, and investment promotion.
“There is a need for clarity on the treatment of existing Class B licenses, protection of investor confidence, and a balanced framework that supports both small-scale and large-scale mining,” Kamara indicated.
Among other things, Kamara called on lawmakers to adopt a modern and comprehensive legal framework that will maximize government revenue, strengthen environmental stewardship, attract responsible investment, and ensure Liberia’s mineral resources contribute to sustainable national development.
Hearing from The Experts
In his open remarks, the presiding officer, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Rep. Jeremiah G. Sokan of Grand Gedeh County Electoral District 1, said the committee aims to gather expert views from all players in the sector before making recommendations on the proposed amendments.
The Grand Gedeh County lawmaker and head of the Joint Committee also highlighted the imperative for the evolution of Liberia’s mining laws so as to address emerging challenges while protecting the country’s natural resources and promoting responsible investment.
“Our focus is to provide an update on the mining sector while identifying what is going wrong, because clearly something is not right. We want to bring about a paradigm shift in the management of Liberia’s mining resources. There are several pieces of legislation that we are reviewing, and we will seek your guidance on these legislative measures. Our goal is to move the mining resources sector in a practical and more effective direction,” he added.
