The Liberian Senate has begun seeking special information from Energy Ministry explicitly, Ministry of Mines, Energy, regarding the operations of the small to medium scale mining sub-sector in Liberia that intent to provide revenue potentials in the 2023 revenue budget.
The Senate’s decision which gave the Committee on Land, Mines and Energy chaired by Senator Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Simeon Taylor, is intended to facilitate the discharge of the oversight responsibility of the senate over the sub-sector which according to experts at the senate, has potential to be a significant revenue earner for 2023 national budget and beyond.
In a communication addressed to Minister of Mines & Energy, Gesler E. Murray under the signature of Senator Taylor, amongst many things, expressed several concerns about the operation of the small to medium scale mining sub-sector (class c mining cooperatives and class-b mining licenses including use of dredges o the waterways).
Other issues flagged in that communication include, the country’s mineral resources are not being adequately protected; that there is widespread illegitimate mining beyond control; that the small to medium scale mining sub-sector is characterized by smuggling of minerals; and that the sub-sectors are also characterized by environmental management issues such as destruction of ecosystem, pollution of water bodies and land degradation.
The Senate oversight committee is seeking information from the Ministry on the current structure of the department of mines and the inspectorate, including names, qualification or experience of the departmental and sectional heads and their assistant , name of class b, license holders and owners, and amongst others to determine its next action.
