By : Geeplay Ezekiel Geeplay|Correspondent
Liberia,Monrovia, Sunday,March 23, 2025 – The Ministry of Mines and Energy has shut down the operations of a mining company in Monrovia.
The company is the Rhode Mining Incorporated operating in Needonwin Town, Gbi and Doru District, lower Nimba County and Central River Cess.
Rhode Mining was ordered shut down for carrying out illicit mining activities, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
“Rhode Mining was given a exploration license, but was found using heavy duty equipment like earthmover and signing MoU with townspeople,” said Richard Manubah, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Mines and Energy. “In prospecting, you don’t do active mining. Instead of carrying out prospecting, the company set up mining institution,” Manubah added.
In a press release issued in Monrovia, March 18, 2025, the mines and energy ministry said it discovered that, “Rhode Mining Incorporated violated the terms and conditions of its exploration license by carrying out illicit mining”.
The ministry furthered that the move was intended to keep mining companies, and holders of exploration licenses in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000 and the Regulations governing exploration.
The mines and energy ministry described its action to shut the company down as “a significant move”.
It followed a “through assessments” done by a technical team from the mines and energy ministry which began early March 2025, according to the release.
The release quotes the ministry as saying, the shutting down of the company followed through a rigorous enforcement effort led by the Inspectorate Division and the Bureau of Mines. The effort was made possible with support from state security agencies.
Meanwhile, all mining installations set up by Rhode Mining Incorporated have been ordered closed.
“Additionally, mining equipment including washing plants, generators, supreme gold carpets, field water pumps, hoses, among other contraband items belonging to the company have been confiscated,” the release concluded.
The shutting down of Rhode Mining Company comes after sustained media reports of continual illicit mining activities by the company.
Edited: Esau J. Farr| Sub-Editor
