MONROVIA — The Liberian government is preparing to move into full-scale enforcement against illicit and illegal mining through a multi-agency task force established to protect the country’s mineral resources.
The task force, known as the Protect Our Resources Taskforce (PORT), is operating under Executive Order 167 issued by President Joseph Boakai.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy said a technical consultative meeting was held on September 2 to prepare the task force for implementation of its national enforcement mandate.
The ministry said the task force is expected to strengthen regulatory compliance and coordinate enforcement activities across Liberia’s mining sector.
Separate reporting has said the task force plans to use drones, satellite reconnaissance and joint military and police operations to identify and target illegal mining sites.
The task force has also said equipment and mineral stocks found in illegal operations could be seized and suspects turned over for prosecution.
Claims that illegal mining costs Liberia more than US$1.6 billion annually have been attributed to task-force officials. That figure has not been independently established and should not be presented as an audited national loss.
