Practical Actions Necessary for Reforms in Mining Sector -Minister Paye Tells Small-Scale Mines, Other Stakeholders

MONROVIA – Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye has admonished artisanal small-scale miners in Liberia to make practical their reform agenda aimed at transforming the small-scale mining sector as part of continued efforts to make the sector competitive with global counterparts.

Paye said the level of progress Liberia desires amongst the comity of nations in the small-scale mining sector heavily depends on practical actions consistent with the outcomes of stakeholders’ consultations.

Minister Paye made the assertions when he spoke Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at monthly coordination meeting of the Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Sector Working Groups SECRETARIAT (ASMWG) at the Ministry’s head-office in Monrovia.

Society for the Conservation of Nature (SCNL), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gender Ministry, the UNDP, Diamond for Peace, Flora and Fiona, and GIZ, from Germany, are among partner organizations attending this month’s sitting of the Small-scale Mining Sector Working Group’s coordination meeting at the Mines and Energy Ministry.

The Minister emphasized the need for monthly coordination meetings by small-scale miners to focus on realistic recommendations that have achievable benchmarks in order to chart a new course for their various mining cooperatives.

Providing brief updates, a cross-section of the stakeholders commended the Liberian government, local and international non-governmental organizations for providing technical and financial support to strengthen their respective cooperatives to promote more Liberian participation in the mineral sector.

The miners boasted of the huge potential of small-scale mining in contributing positively to revenue generation to undertake national development for enhanced livelihood activities of local communities.

The Liberian artisanal and small-scale miners expressed gratitude to the government for recognizing tremendous efforts their then Consultant, now Assistant Minister for Mineral Exploration and Environmental Research, Oliver S, Gbegbe, has made towards the vibrancy of the ASM sub-sector.

Launching the “Handbook for Artisanal and Small Scale Miners – Working Safely and Protecting People and the Environment,” the ASM Miners divulged during their Wednesday, October 23, 2024 coordination meeting at the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Monrovia, that the ‘user-friendly’ reader helped them significantly in understanding safe mining techniques, with one of its key components being soil reclamation or backfilling of open pits dug to recover mineral beneath the surface of the earth.

Assistant Minister Gbegbe is on record for being one of Liberia’s leading geologists who has over the years worked with miners from diverse backgrounds, using his expertise to ensure their mining practices are in compliance with the law and environmental safeguard measures