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Written By Jeremiah Mulbah
Monrovia – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has granted China Union a three-month temporary permit to resume its iron ore mining operations after the company made an initial payment of US$20,000 toward a US$120,000 fine for multiple environmental violations.
The permit allows China Union to bring its operations into full compliance with Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law (EMPL).
The EPA, in a statement issued Thursday, September 5, 2024, said the temporary permit was granted following China Union’s acknowledgment of its infractions and a formal request to resume activities.
On August 28, 2024, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Urey-Yarkpawolo had ordered the shutdown of the company’s operations due to several significant environmental breaches.
The violations cited included operating without an effluent discharge license, transporting iron ore via the Bong Mines railway without an approved environmental mitigation plan, and constructing a medium-scale tailings processing plant without the necessary environmental permits. Additionally, the company was found to have illegally discharged tailings into a nearby wetland, posing further environmental risks.
Following the shutdown, China Union admitted its failures and appealed for leniency, requesting time to rectify the violations. The company pointed to its six months of inactivity and stressed the importance of a public-private partnership in its appeal.
The EPA agreed to issue a temporary permit, contingent on strict conditions. China Union was required to pay an initial US$20,000 installment of the fine, with the remaining US$100,000 to be paid within three months.
The company is also obligated to complete an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) during this period.
The EPA highlighted that China Union’s compliance with the EMPL will be closely monitored. Failure to meet the outlined conditions could result in further penalties, including another shutdown.
The EPA’s initial fine followed multiple attempts to bring China Union into compliance, with the agency issuing a formal “Notice of Fine” in June 2024, after a field assessment revealed ongoing violations dating back to June 2023.
The EPA reiterated its commitment to holding companies accountable for environmental infractions and emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean, healthy environment for all Liberians.
China Union signed a Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Liberian government in January 2009, securing a US$2.6 billion investment. The company operates in Margibi and Bong counties but also transports iron ore through Montserrado County, making it financially obligated to all three regions.
