NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – Liberia’s environmental regulator has launched one of its most far-reaching crackdowns on mining operations in recent years, imposing fines, ordering clean-up efforts and shutting down a company over what it describes as serious and widespread violations.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Speaking at a regular government press briefing in Monrovia on Tuesday, 5 May, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, outlined a series of enforcement measures targeting several of the country’s largest mining operators.
The action affects Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, China Union Liberia Mining Company and ArcelorMittal Liberia, while Nugget Era Mining Company has been ordered to halt operations entirely.
Dr Yarkpawolo said the shutdown of Nugget Era Mining Company in Gbarpolu County followed findings that it had been operating without the required environmental permit.
He warned that its activities posed a direct threat to Zorballa Creek and surrounding communities. The company has been fined US$3,000 and instructed to submit environmental and rehabilitation plans before any future operations can be considered.
One of the most serious cases, he said, involved Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, where a pollution incident at Marvoe Creek in Grand Cape Mount County led to the mass death of fish and other aquatic life.
According to the EPA, scientific investigations traced the incident to elevated levels of cypermethrin, a highly toxic chemical harmful to aquatic ecosystems.
Although the substance is not part of the company’s declared operations, the contamination originated from within its concession area.
“As the concession holder, the company has the responsibility to secure and manage its operational environment,” Dr Yarkpawolo said.
Investigators also discovered that large quantities of dead fish had been buried along the creek—an action the EPA says raises serious concerns about attempts to conceal the scale of the damage and undermines public trust.
The agency has ordered Bea Mountain to fund a comprehensive environmental restoration programme for Marvoe Creek, including biodiversity recovery and the reintroduction of aquatic species. The company must also carry out monthly independent water quality testing and secure affected areas. It has been given 21 business days to submit a full remediation plan.
In a separate violation, Bea Mountain was fined US$50,000 for unauthorized sand mining in the Lofa River, with an additional US$20,000 in restoration and monitoring fees.
The EPA said the activity significantly altered the river’s natural flow and caused environmental damage.
China Union Liberia Mining Company has also been sanctioned, with a US$30,000 fine and US$20,000 in restoration fees for discharging untreated wastewater in Bong County.
The company has been ordered to halt all pollution, install proper wastewater treatment systems and provide safe drinking water to affected communities.
Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal Liberia faces the largest penalty, amounting to US$125,000, following a pollution incident at its Bonla Mine. The EPA said heavy rainfall caused contaminated runoff to spread into nearby water bodies and farmland.
Laboratory tests confirmed dangerous levels of iron, lead, chromium and selenium. The company has paid an additional US$60,000 to support a comprehensive environmental assessment and has compensated affected farmers.
However, Dr. Yarkpawolo stressed that restoration efforts remain ongoing and that the company must redesign its infrastructure to better withstand extreme weather conditions.
Beyond these individual cases, the EPA also conducted a broader compliance audit of Bea Mountain’s operations, uncovering systemic shortcomings.
These include unauthorized infrastructure, weak environmental monitoring systems, gaps in hazardous materials management and inadequate emergency preparedness.
“A compliance audit is not a paperwork exercise; it is a tool to prevent environmental harm,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said, warning that failure to comply with EPA directives could result in stricter measures, including the suspension of operations.
He emphasized that the agency’s actions are not intended to deter investment but to enforce accountability and responsible business practices.
“Responsible investment is welcome in Liberia, but no company is above environmental accountability,” he said. “Where pollution occurs, restoration must follow.”
The EPA says it will continue to monitor all affected areas to ensure companies comply fully with environmental regulations and that damaged ecosystems are restored, signaling what could mark a turning point in the enforcement of environmental laws in Liberia’s extractive sector.
