The Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, has told investors involved with heavy black sand mining, otherwise known as ‘Zircon’, that the Government of Liberia is not against their investment interest in the Country by placing a ban on that aspect of mining the Liberia’s abundant mineral resources.
Speaking Friday when he met in audience with investors mining heavy black sand here, Minister Paye said, the moratorium was placed on continuous mining of the sand mineral in an uncoordinated manner. He told the Investors that the Ministry of Mines and Energy on his watch does not have any clear information about Licenses in the Heavy black sand mining sector, so, it was imprudent to allow the operations to continue. The Mines and Energy Minister further emphasized that the Liberian government welcomes investments of all kinds, not only in mining, for the betterment of its citizens’ living conditions as well as the Investors’, but pointed out that what will not be tolerated are harmful practices that have dangerous propensities.
Speaking also was one of Minister Paye’s technical deputies, William Hines, who frowned at what he calls the “bad” mining practices that the heavy black sand mining companies were carrying out across the Country with the situation in Marshall, Margibi, being the most attention grabbing that went viral on social media. Mr. Hines, Deputy Minister for Operations at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, explained further that the Wilmot Paye administration assumes responsibility of this problem because government is continuity, and assured that measures required to fix it will be put in place.
Responding, the heavy black sand mineral investors gave their full cooperation in collaborating with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to identify mitigating factors that affect positive change regarding heavy black sand mining in Liberia. According to a cross section of them, mostly foreigners, they have Licenses ranging from exploration, prospecting and mining, which gave them ‘mineral’ right, but fell short of giving details of their acquisition of those Licenses. The Investors then pleaded with Minister Wilmot Paye and his team of Ministers that the ban placed on their operations is causing them serious discomfort.
According to some of them, they have shipment schedules they have missed out on on many occasions, and that due to the ban, their consignments are stock-piled at the Freeport of Monrovia incurring storage penalties. They want the Ministry [Mines & Energy] allow their shipment to go through whilst solutions are being sought out to mine heavy black sand in a proper manner that considers environmental social safeguard, benefit to affected communities, among others.
In another development, Minister Wilmot Paye has concluded acquaintances and refresher trainings for his Mineral Inspectors, and Mining Agents. They are in Monrovia from the 70 mining districts (6 mining regions) for assessment appraisals. This process usually follows re-assignments. During the process supervised by Assistant Minister for Mines Carlos Edison Tingban, Inspector-General, Joshua Arku, and Arma Fully, Director of Mines, the field staff were drilled through the Mineral and Mining Laws and other topics relevant to their work. The issue of interference by political authorities and traditional people was a torch-bearing concern during the technical sessions, which Minister Wilmot Paye entreated his field staff to stand firm against no matter who’s trying to prevail on them.
For his astuteness in leadership at national and other levels, Minister Wilmot Paye was on Friday, April 19, 2024, honored and gownrd by the C8tizens Action Committee (CAC),/a group comprising several civil society organizations. This head, Testimony Barclay, said over the years, they have kept Minister Paye under close observation and have discovered that he is diligent, hard-working and integrous.
Barclay urged Minister Paye to continue making such meaningful impact on society. The honoree, Minister Paye, thanked the group and promised to deliver on his national responsibilities even more in the interest of the Country.
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