By: J. Mason Kollie |Lofa Correspondent
Kilewu Town, Zorzor District |Feb. 5, 2026| The Environmental Protection Agency and Zorzor District Commissioner have jointly decided to halt mining operations of the Upper and Lower Northern Mining Company in Zorzor District.
This latest move comes on the heels of multiple media reports of Kilewu Town and parts adjacent experiencing environmental pollution due to the company’s mining activities without mitigated measures to address the situation.
According to report emanating from Zorzor District, Commissioner Paul R. Kalama and the EPA took the action after realizing that company was not doing anything tangibly to address the key issue of environmental degradation thereby affecting the water sources and rivers within Kilewu town and its neighboring communities where it has been operating since 2025.
It can be recalled that on Jan. 21, 2026 the Liberia Rural Reporters News Network reported a with the caption “Kilewu town and surrounding communities in Zorzor District, Lofa County are raising serious concerns and grievances over water pollution and environmental degradation linked to the Upper and Lower Northern Mining Company, which operates in Kilewu Town”.
Thereafter, it seemed the company did not considered the heed the expressed warning but went ahead to not only ignored but failed to streamline pollution control measures in its extraction operations.
Even after local leaders urged the company to comply with the dictates of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in fulfilling its obligations especially as per pollution control in concert with key steps in ensuring that the environment is clean with the biodiversity maintained.
Well following the media report and ensuring having noticed the hesitancy of the company carry through with Commissioner Paul R. Kalama and the EPA put pressure on the Mining Company to pack all its mining equipment and halt all mining activities in the District.
On Thursday February 5, 2026 in an exclusive interview with RRNN reporter, Commissioner Paul Kalama confirmed that all mining activities are presently halted in the affected areas till the company meets the standard of the Class B and equally operates in line with the agreed as well as signed MOU.
According to the Commissioner, the affected communities are to benefit from hand pumps, community guest house, improved school system and backfilling of open holes on the main road among others, but said up to present; even 35% of the above mentioned is yet to be implemented.
“Until the needful things are done by the mining company, we asked them to stop the mining activities and they have stopped for the time being,” Zorzor commissioner Paul Kalama said in an interview.
The Mining Company before halting their activities in the district operated for 4 months with Class B mining license.
It can be recalled that on January 3, 2026, he Zorzor District Commissioner Hon. Paul R. Kalama, Zorzor City Mayor, community representatives, the EPA Supervisor, and officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy local office in Lofa convened a meeting with the mining company aimed at addressing the citizens of Kilewu concerns stemming from mining activities in their area.
During the meeting, residents of Kilewu Town called for a temporary halt to the company’s operations until pollution issues are adequately addressed and safe drinking water is provided. They emphasized the need for the mining company to construct hand pumps to ensure access to clean water for household use; urging compliance with the terms of the MOU.
Further, the communities expressed deep concern for the safety of their children, as the company has left several open pits from its mining operations, creating hazardous conditions as regard movement within and around Kilewu Town and parts adjacent.
Accordingly, the people of Kilewu and its surroundings at the time, called on local authorities and the Liberian government to take immediate and effective action to safeguard both their health and environment by ensuring the mining company operates within confines of the mining laws of Liberia and mitigate the effects of environmental degradation at all times.
