Liberia’s illegal mining crisis is deepening fast. Minister of Mines and Energy Hon. R. Matenokay Tingban told the Senate so directly. He appeared before the Joint Committees on Mines and Energy, Hydrocarbon and Environment. His testimony was alarming: foreign operators are running large-scale, semi-industrial mines without licenses. Revenue is being smuggled out. Local authorities are interfering with enforcement. Then Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo added another dimension: he wants excavator imports suspended immediately. The machines, he says, are the primary drivers of environmental destruction. Sapo National Park is under threat. So are Liberia’s rivers. THE ANALYST reports.
Minister of Mines and Energy Hon. R. Matenokay Tingban has described illicit mining and mineral smuggling as among the gravest threats facing Liberia’s mining sector, warning that the growing trend is undermining government revenues, degrading the environment, and posing significant security risks across the country.
Appearing before the Joint Committees on Mines and Energy, Hydrocarbon, and Environment of the Liberian Senate during a public hearing, Tingban disclosed that illegal mining activities have expanded from traditional subsistence operations into large-scale semi-industrial ventures driven largely by unauthorized foreign operators working in collaboration with some local residents and authorities.
The minister expressed concern that many of these operators continue to carry out mining activities without obtaining the required licenses and permits from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), while illegally exporting minerals recovered from mining sites.
“How can heavy-duty equipment such as excavators enter communities and commence mining operations without presenting valid authorization from the Government of Liberia?” Tingban asked, highlighting what he described as a troubling pattern of blatant disregard for mining regulations.
Resistance Hampers Enforcement on Ground
According to the minister, MME compliance and enforcement teams frequently encounter resistance and interference from local authorities, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders when attempting to halt illegal operations. He warned that the proliferation of illicit mining has the potential to trigger violent confrontations between illegal miners and host communities, while also creating broader security challenges in affected regions.
Beyond the security implications, the minister stressed the devastating environmental impact of illegal mining activities. He noted that unauthorized operators use excavators that cause extensive land degradation, dredges that pollute rivers and streams, and mercury — a hazardous substance known to contaminate water sources and threaten public health.
“These activities are resulting in severe environmental destruction and the reckless exploitation of Liberia’s natural resources without accountability,” he told senators.
Protected Areas Breached; Equipment Seized
Tingban further revealed that illegal mining operations have increasingly been discovered in protected areas. However, he clarified that the MME neither issues mining licenses for such locations nor exercises direct jurisdiction over protected zones, which fall under the authority of other government agencies. To support its claims, the ministry has compiled photographs and video evidence documenting illegal mining activities in various parts of the country; the materials will be submitted to the Senate for review.
As part of ongoing enforcement efforts, the ministry has confiscated several excavators and other pieces of equipment used in illicit mining operations. Some of the seized machinery has already been transported to Monrovia and is currently being held at the ministry’s premises. The minister also disclosed the establishment of a special Investigation Board, backed by legal counsel, to probe cases involving unauthorized mining activities. Individuals apprehended during enforcement operations are being investigated, and those found culpable of economic crimes will be turned over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
Tingban Calls for Institutional Collaboration
Tingban reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Liberia’s mineral resources are developed responsibly and sustainably for the benefit of all citizens. He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, local authorities, traditional leaders, communities, and international partners to combat illegal mining and safeguard the country’s natural wealth.
“Together, we can protect our environment, strengthen national security, preserve our natural resources, and ensure that the benefits of mining contribute meaningfully to Liberia’s development,” the minister concluded.
EPA’s Yarkpawolo Calls for Excavator Ban
For his part, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, has called for an immediate halt to the importation of excavators and dredges into Liberia, describing the machines as the primary drivers of widespread environmental degradation and illegal mining activities across the country. Speaking during his appearance before the Senate joint committees at the same hearing, Yarkpawolo warned that unregulated mining operations have reached crisis proportions, threatening Liberia’s rivers, forests, public health, national security, and economic stability.
The EPA Executive Director said field assessments conducted by the agency in counties and districts across Liberia confirmed alarming levels of environmental destruction caused by illegal mining operations powered by heavy machinery.
“Illegal mining today is no longer simply a matter of individuals digging for minerals. It has become mechanized and unregulated mining driven by excavators, dredges, mercury, and other dangerous chemicals,” Yarkpawolo told senators.
Mercury, Cyanide Threaten Rivers and Communities
According to Yarkpawolo, excavators rapidly clear forests and vegetation, dig massive pits, and accelerate land degradation, while dredges alter river courses and pollute major waterways. He also raised concerns over the increasing use of mercury and cyanide in mining operations, noting that cyanide is prohibited in small-scale mining because of its extreme toxicity. He warned that Liberia’s water resources are under growing threat as pollution from mining activities spreads across rivers, creeks, and groundwater sources.
“Our rivers and creeks are being polluted. Mercury remains in the environment, enters fish consumed by local populations, and can cause serious health complications, including kidney disease and developmental problems for pregnant women and children,” he said.
Beyond environmental concerns, Yarkpawolo argued that illegal mining is weakening state authority and fueling mineral smuggling, financial crimes, and widespread revenue losses.
“Liberia is rich in natural resources, yet remains financially constrained. Illegal mining and gold smuggling are depriving the country of significant revenues needed for national development,” he noted.
Sapo Park Vulnerable; Enforcement Overstretched
The EPA Executive Director also highlighted the impact of illegal mining on community stability, citing growing land disputes and social tensions in affected areas. He further warned that extensive forest degradation resulting from mining activities could undermine Liberia’s participation in international carbon markets, reducing the country’s carbon absorption capacity and weakening its ability to benefit from climate financing opportunities.
Yarkpawolo disclosed that the EPA has intensified enforcement efforts, including environmental monitoring, arrests, fines, closure orders, and restoration mandates for degraded sites. He pointed to the recent arrest of approximately 20 Chinese nationals allegedly involved in illegal mining activities, saying the agency continues to collaborate with law enforcement authorities to address violations. Despite these interventions, he acknowledged that enforcement remains a major challenge due to the mobility of illegal operators and limited government presence in remote areas.
He recounted how EPA inspectors tracked a group of illegal miners from Bomi County to a remote area in Grand Kru County, where the operators had relocated deep into the forest after initially evading enforcement actions.
“In many cases, local communities shield illegal operators, making enforcement difficult. Even when stop orders are issued, there are often insufficient security personnel and logistical support to ensure compliance,” he said.
The EPA Executive Director also expressed concern over illegal mining activities threatening protected areas, including the renowned Sapo National Park. He revealed that the park is monitored by only a small number of rangers, making it vulnerable to encroachment and environmental crimes.
Senate Urged to Back Emergency Measures
As a solution, Yarkpawolo urged the Senate to support emergency measures targeting the machinery driving illegal mining operations. He proposed an immediate suspension of excavator imports, followed by a nationwide inventory of all excavators currently in Liberia. He further recommended the introduction of regulations requiring machine registration, ownership tracking, and GPS monitoring systems to ensure authorities can monitor their movements and prevent their use in unauthorized mining operations.
“These machines are not pocket-sized equipment. They are large, visible, and traceable. If we can regulate excavators and dredges, we can significantly reduce the environmental destruction taking place and begin reversing the crisis,” he said.
Yarkpawolo emphasized that controlling heavy machinery represents the fastest and most effective way to curb illegal mining and restore order to Liberia’s mining sector. He called on lawmakers to provide the necessary legislative backing and support to strengthen enforcement efforts and protect the country’s natural resources for future generations.
“The excavators and dredges are the major problem. If we can control them, we can begin to bring the situation under control and protect Liberia’s environment, economy, and communities,” he concluded.