By: Keith Morrison | Contributing Writer
Monrovia, Liberia | February 28, 2026 |As a technical institution of the Liberian Government, the Ministry of Mines and Energy is utilizing every available opportunity to capacitate its staff with advanced knowledge in order to properly position the Ministry (MME) to govern the mining and energy sectors of Liberia.
While four staff from the Mining Cadastre, and the Office of Precious Minerals are concluding a week-long workshop in the Ghanaian Capital – Accra, Geologist Bill D.Z. Saye, from the Liberia Geological Survey (LGS) is currently in Uganda [East Africa], participating in a high-level continental training program under the PanAfGeo+ Project. The PanAfGeo+ Project is an Africa – EU partnership initiative aimed at strengthening geoscientific capacity of Geologists across the African continent.
Running from 4th February – March 4, 2026, the training is taking place in Entebbe and Mbale in southeastern Uganda. It brings together geoscientific professionals from across Africa for intensive, hands-on learning facilitated by world-class experts from both African and European geological surveys.
PanAfGeo+, the short form for ‘Pan-African Support to Geological Sciences and Technology’, is funded by the European Commission through DG INTPA and coordinated by the French Geological Survey (BRGM). The project is implemented by a consortium of 13 European geological surveys in close collaboration with the Organization of African Geological Surveys (OAGS). Its overarching goal is to improve governance, data quality, and the sustainable use of Africa’s mineral and natural resources through targeted professional training.
Geologist Saye, representing Liberia, is participating in the “Field Geoscientific Mapping” course, one of eight specialized work packages under the PanAfGeo+ program. This course is designed to enhance the practical field-mapping skills of African geologists, enabling them to independently produce high-quality geological maps that support national development planning, mineral exploration, infrastructure development, and environmental protection.
The Field Geoscientific Mapping training is coordinated by the Czech Geological Survey, with technical and scientific support from the Geological Survey Department of Uganda alongside contributions from the geological surveys of France, Portugal, and Slovenia. The training in Uganda focuses on Neogene volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks, associated carbonatite intrusions, and crystalline basement formations – geological settings that are highly relevant to many African countries, including Liberia.
Through a combination of classroom instructions and intensive fieldwork, participants are being trained in modern geological mapping techniques, data collection, and interpretation. Key areas of learning include petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, structural geology, lithostratigraphy, and geochronology. The course also introduces participants to remote sensing applications and digital data handling, as well as the use of advanced portable field equipment such as UV lamps, gamma-ray spectrometers, portable XRF analyzers, and other geoscientific tools.
The training is guided by the PanAfGeo+ Charter for Trainees, which sets out standards for professionalism, ethics, and quality throughout the duration of the project. Compliance with the charter ensures that the program delivers long-term institutional benefits to participating countries and strengthens national geological surveys.
The Liberia Geological Survey, headed by Geologist Anthony Kullie as Director, has previously benefited and continues to benefit from the PanAfGeo+ program and several other related capacity-building trainings, significantly strengthening the technical skills and professional competence of its staff.
Geologist Bill D.Z. Saye’s participation in this prestigious program reflects the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s commitment to building the technical capacity of the Liberia Geological Survey and investing in human capital development. The knowledge and skills acquired through PanAfGeo+ are expected to directly support Liberia’s efforts to improve geological data coverage, strengthen mineral resource governance, and promote sustainable and transparent management of the country’s natural resources.
The PanAfGeo+ project will run from 2025 to 2028, with multiple training sessions planned across Africa, positioning Liberia to benefit from regional and international cooperation in advancing geoscience and mineral sector development.
