The Ministry of Mines and Energy has shut down all artisanal and small scale mining sites in Tchien, Grand Gedeh County.
The decision followed the discovery of some artisanal and small scale miners using earth-moving equipment for Class ‘C’ mining operations which is in flagrant violation of the Law.
According to the Ministry such action by the small scale miners run counter to provisions of the Minerals and Mining Law, and the Regulations governing the mining sector in Liberia.
Following the investigation, the Compliance Enforcement Team of the Mines and Energy Ministry found out that out of eight Excavators seen in Tchien Mining District, five are being used for Class ‘C’ mining purposes in Bentley, Golo, and Papa Hage mining camps while, The rest were reported to have mechanical faults.
According to findings, the Class ‘C’ miners in Tchien District get access to the Excavators to perpetrate their illicit mining acts through a rental and benefit-sharing agreement with some unidentified Indian Nationals residing in Zwedru City.
Meanwhile, In addition to issuing the illicit miners closure orders for being in material violation of the Law, the Ministry of Mines and Energy Compliance Enforcement Team confiscated keys to the Excavators.
