By K. Ericson Sayee
MONROVIA, Oct 21 (LINA)–As concerns over illegal mining activities increase across the country, the House of Representatives has made a significant step in ensuring that the sector is protected from illegal mining activities as its committee on Mines, Energy, and Natural Resources proposed US$ 1.5 million in the pending Fiscal Year 2027.
The committee disclosed that the amount is intended to establish reforms in the country’s mining sector. Justifying the proposal the committee’s report indicated that the lack of sweeping reforms have led to grave losses in the mining sector.
During the House’s 2nd sitting of the 3rd Session of the 3rd Quarter on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the committee revealed that its recommendation to plenary derived from a comprehensive hearings with key stakeholders within the sector.
According to the report, illicit mining in the country, as unveiled by the key drivers of the sector, does not only pose revenue threats to the country, but also causes significant damages to the environment where those illegal mining activities are carried out.
The committee said, in carrying out its mandate, it held several hearings and consultations with relevant government institutions, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders within the mining sector.
Further unveiling the objectives of convening the hearings, the committee intimated that some of the principal objectives included: To examine the nature and extent of illegal and illicit mining activities in Liberia, to assess the effectiveness of existing mining laws and regulatory mechanisms, and to identify challenges confronting the Ministry of Mines and Energy and other regulatory institutions in monitoring mining operations as well as examining the environmental, economic, and social consequences of unauthorized mining.
The committee informed the House to consider proposals for amending and reforming the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000, warning that piecemeal legal amendments will not adequately address the severe structural problems confronting the sector.
According to the committee, the widespread use of illegal excavators, the smuggling of minerals, and the amassing of illegal foreigners in the sector deserve the government’s uncompromising interventions so that the people benefit from their God-given resources.
In order for the country to immensely benefit from its natural resources, the Mines, Energy, and Natural Resources committee at the lower chamber stressed the need to avert the mass illegal mining activities, particularly tackling the unlawful involvement of foreigners in the small-scale mining that is taking place countrywide.
Additionally, the committee says huge logistical problems and insufficient manpower continue to impede the progress of the Ministry of Mines and Energy from efficiently implementing the country’s mining laws and regulations, noting that the with the proposed reforms, the Law Reforms Commission will manage the requested funding to conduct extensive technical and legal reviews of the sector.
The committee further asserted that the proposed request will also support stakeholder consultations across the country that will include local mining communities, civil society groups, traditional leaders, and environmental organizations, as the comprehensive reforms will commensurate with the widely accepted standards.
Following the committee’s report to the plenary, dated Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the sitting of the legislators, the body wholeheartedly accepted and endorsed the comprehensive and insightful report, thereby referring the request of US$1.5 million to the committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Development Planning to examine ahead of pending 2027 national budget.