The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has ordered the immediate suspension of operations of Huiren Mining Company in Bong County for breaching regulatory, safety, and environmental standards.
According to a press release dated March 30, 2026, a high-level technical assessment led by the Director of Mines, Alwell Aloysius Carr, and the Deputy Inspector General for Mines, Adolphus Gleekia, discovered over the weekend what authorities described as a systemic failure by the company to comply with established mining regulations and safety protocols.
According to the Ministry, the inspection revealed that the company was unable to provide mandatory production reports and other critical documentation required for operational transparency and regulatory compliance.
Inspectors also identified serious structural concerns at the mining site, particularly an unsafe and unstable shaft collar that poses risks to workers. Further findings revealed the near absence of basic health and safety measures at both the mine and processing facility, raising concerns about the welfare of employees and adherence to occupational health and safety standards.
Particularly, during the compliance inspection, the Mines and Energy Ministry discovered that Huiren Mining Company improperly stores hazardous chemicals, including Sodium Cyanide (NaCN), Ammonium Nitrate, and Sodium Hydroxide, along with other reagents and oxidizing agents. The Ministry notes that the unauthorized and unsafe stockpiling of these substances presents a substantial threat to both human health and the surrounding environment.
Authorities emphasized that such violations will not be tolerated, reiterating that compliance with Liberia’s Minerals and Mining laws and environmental regulations is a fundamental requirement for all operators within the sector.
As part of enforcement actions, the inspection team has recommended that Huiren Mining Company be sanctioned in line with applicable mining and environmental laws.
Additionally, the Ministry has initiated a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the full scale of the company’s ore production activities and plant recovery processes, alongside a detailed probe into the sourcing and utilization of chemicals within its Carbon-In-Leach (CIL) operations.
The Ministry confirmed that operations at the Bong County site of Huiren will remain suspended pending the outcome of a full compliance audit.
Furthermore, the company will only be allowed to resume activities upon addressing all identified deficiencies and demonstrating strict adherence to safety, environmental, and regulatory standards. This move underscores the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding public safety, protecting the environment, and ensuring responsible mining practices across Liberia.
