NATIONAL NEWS
Bong County, Liberia – District #5 Representative Eugine Kollie has warned that Liberia’s 25-year Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with Turkish mining firm MNG Gold Liberia risks expiring without the legally required review, raising serious concerns over environmental protection, labor standards, and community benefits.
The Kokoyah–AMLIB Mineral Development Agreement, signed on March 14, 2002, grants MNG Gold Liberia rights to explore and mine gold across approximately 200 square kilometers in Bong County’s Kokoyah Statutory District, with mining activities extending into parts of Nimba and Grand Bassa counties.
By: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr-rufusbrooks091@gmail.com – Reporter
Under Liberia’s mining laws, long-term concession agreements are subject to mandatory reviews every five years and must be renegotiated at least one year before expiration. However, Rep. Kollie says the MDA has never undergone a formal review since it was signed.
With the agreement set to expire on March 13, 2027—less than 15 months away—the lawmaker said urgent action is required.
“The law is clear, but neither the government nor the company has taken meaningful steps to initiate a review,” Rep. Kollie said, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
He disclosed plans to work with the Bong Legislative Caucus and affected communities to summon the Ministry of Mines and Energy and MNG Gold Liberia to explain their compliance with the environmental and social development obligations contained in the original agreement.
Past Warnings Ignored
Rep. Kollie revealed that he first raised concerns about the absence of a contract review during his time as liaison officer for AMLIB United Minerals Inc., the predecessor of MNG Gold Liberia, prior to his election to the House of Representatives.
Despite repeated recommendations for renegotiation, he said both the company and the ministry failed to act in line with legal requirements.
The lawmaker warned that renewing the company’s underground mining permit without renegotiating the MDA would be “irresponsible,” citing risks of weakened labor protections, inadequate environmental safeguards, and unfulfilled commitments to host communities.
“The original negotiations were conducted under a very different economic and regulatory climate,” Kollie noted, adding that modern concerns such as climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and equitable resource-sharing must be reflected in any revised agreement.
The Kokoyah mining site, one of Liberia’s key gold reserves, has remained a focal point of debate over economic benefits and environmental impact. Local leaders and civil society groups have previously accused the company of land degradation and insufficient social investments, particularly in healthcare and education.
Rep. Kollie said his call for renegotiation is intended to address these longstanding grievances while ensuring the agreement aligns with Liberia’s 2018–2030 National Development Plan.
As the 2027 deadline approaches, he has called for a legislative inquiry and public consultations with affected communities to determine the future of mining operations in the area.
