A report obtained from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MLME) has disclosed the generation of millions of United States Dollars by the Government of Liberia (GOL) from the minerals sector of the country due to the introduction of new strategies and innovations by the current management team at the ministry.
By Obediah Johnson
MLME is headed by Wilmot Paye, former Chairman of the governing Unity Party (UP).
The report also unearthed new revenue sources for the generation of additional money to support the ARREST Agenda of the Unity Party (UP) led-Government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
New sources of revenue generation
In the report, a copy which is in the possession of FPA, the MLME for the first time issuing licenses for industrial minerals, including Barnite, Corundum, Garnet, and Granite, setting a target of US$565,650 to be generated annually.
It projected US$61,500 to be raised from the issuance of quarry licenses for rocks, laterite mining permit and royalty (for rocks being used in Liberia) only.
The ministry says it intends to also generate US$121, 500 from dredging, including the issuance of ocean sand mining permit, Class B Permit (bucket ladder dredge gold/diamond, river sand mining permit, and Class C permit (suction dredge).
For strategic minerals such as Coltan, HMS and Lithium, the MLME intends to raise US$335,150.
It sets as target US$145,000 to be generated from the importation of mining explosives and accessories, including issuance of import licenses to manufacturers, non-manufacturers and suppliers, and Class A and B storage permit fees.
The MLME will also generate US$27,000 from the issuance of mining surveyor licenses for Class A Surveyor, Artisanal and Small-Scale miners.
It targets additional US$600 as administrative fees for application, survey and claim size, change or adjustment of coordinates, and US$13,650 for permit for transfer of mineral rights for Classes A, B, C, exploration, reconnaissance and prospecting.
Payment for consultancy
It also sets fees for sectorial, mining support, professional services and certificate fees.
Under this category, the ministry puts the cost for the fees of a foreign consultancy firm in the sector at US$10,000 and a local (Liberian) consultancy firm at US$1,000.
It sets aside US$5,000 as consultancy fee for foreigners and US$500 for Liberians.
The report stated that a Mine Contractor (foreign firm) will pay US$10,000 for an annual permit, while a Liberian Mine Contractor firm will pay US$1,500.
It mandates Mine Contractor (foreign individual) to remit to the government’s coffers US$5,000 as permit fee, and US$500 for a Liberian Mine Contractor.
The MLME further sets aside a mining license for iron ore at US$500,000 annually.
Its revenue target for blasting in the sector stands at US$52,000.
Diamond
For the mining of diamond, the ministry increased the Class A mining license which was US$35,000 from 2010 to June 2025, to US$500,000, US$15,000 for Class B License (Liberian and Foreign owned) , and US$150 for Class C license.
It puts royalty for Class B Mining licenses for both Liberian and foreign-owned companies at US$50,000 instead of the 3% which was previously charged.
It charges US$25,000 for dealer/export license and US$35,000 for cut/polish license.
The MLME intends to generate US$625,650 from the issuance of licenses to mining companies, brokers, dealers and exporters of diamond from Liberia.
Gold
The Ministry also maintained US$500,000 for Class A license for the mining of gold, US$15,000 for Class B and US$150 for Class C.
It points out the amounts of US$3000, US$1000, US$150, US$250 respectively for Classes A, B, C, and D jewelry licenses for gold.
It further sets aside US$5,000 as fees for dealer/export license for gold, and US$500 for broker license.
The government, through the ministry, intends to generate US$575,050 from gold licenses.
It would also generate about US$5,600 from the issuance of scrap licenses, and US$187,500 from the issuance of other licenses and permits including, exploration, reconnaissance, underground mine operation, as well as prospecting, yellow machine user permit, mine foreman and manager, ground water borehole drilling and operations, amongst others.
The report clearly shows that the government, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, would generate US$3,249, 975 annually based upon the introduction of the new structure fees and discovery of additional revenue sources from the mineral sector.
This amount is far above the US$249,925 which was previously generated from the sector from 2010 to June 9, 2025.9.23
The new fee structure put in place by the ministry is intended to ensure that Liberians benefit from the natural resources of their country.
It is also intended to attract and encourage investments in the sector, particularly with the involvement of Liberians as the new fees structure gives preference to Liberian-owned companies or businesses.
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