The Liberian Senate has requested information from the Ministry of Mines and Energy on the operation of the small- to medium-scale mining sub-sector.

According to the President pro tempore's statement, this is intended to relieve the Senate of its oversight responsibility over the sub-sector, which has the potential to be a significant revenue earner for the 2023 National Budget and beyond. 

The Senate expressed several concerns about the operation of the small to medium scale mining sub-sector, including Class C, Mining Cooperatives, and Class B Mining Licenses, including the use of dredges on waterways, in a communication addressed to the Minister of Mines and Energy, Gesler E. Murray, and signed by Senator Simeon Taylor, Chair of the Senate Committee on Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment.

The Senate also stated in the letter that the country's mineral resources are not adequately protected, that there is widespread illegal mining that is out of control, that the small- to medium-scale mining sub-sector is characterized by mineral smuggling, and that the sub-sector is also characterized by environmental management issues such as ecosystem destruction, pollution of water bodies, and land degradation.

The Senate is also requesting information from the Mines and Energy Ministry on the current structure of the Department of Mines and the Inspectorate, including the names, qualifications, and experience of the departmental and sectional heads and their assistants; the names of Class B License holders and owners; the names of mining cooperatives, owners, and financial supporters/operators; quarterly production statistics for each Class B Licensee and mining cooperative; and sale records of Class B Licensees and mining cooperatives.

The Senate also wants to know who owns the licenses for heavy mineral beach sand deposits, who owns the licenses for Columbite-Tantalite (COLTAN), and who owns the production and sales records for COLTAN.

The Senate stated that the information will aid in its oversight work to ensure productivity, accountability, and transparency in the small to medium-scale mining sub-sector, which has the potential to generate revenue for public spending and help lift rural communities out of poverty.
The action is the latest by the Upper Chamber of the Legislature to exercise its oversight responsibility in order to address the threat in the sector.

It comes as the Ministry of Mines and Energy acknowledges an increase in illegal mining across the country.

Minister Murray stated at a forum in February this year that the increase in illicit mining activities across the country was preventing the Government of Liberia (GOL) from generating millions of dollars in revenue.

Minister Murray blamed the series of events on the misuse of mining licenses reserved solely for Liberians and the signing of Memorandums of Understanding between locals and owners of companies without the Ministry's involvement.

He stated that the formalization of ASM in Liberia has given ministry officials "sleepless nights," noting that the sector has not been formalized in Liberia for a long time.

However, he stated that the best way to address the threat is to revise the "age-old mining law of 2000."

"We are determined to solve ASM problems, and we want to urge all stakeholders to look at what the mining law says," the Minister said in February at a forum hosted by the University of Paris, the International Growth Center (IGC), and the Institute for Quality Research and Development (IQRD).

"Despite the fact that we grant licenses, I believe it is not too late to formalize the ASM sector." The Class 'C' license is only available to Liberians, but foreign partners are now being invited to operate mining plants using heavy duty equipment. "We will investigate this thoroughly," he added.