CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – The House Committee on, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment, chaired by Hon. Jeremiah Sokan, Representative of Grand Gedeh County Electoral District #1, has concluded its first official engagement with the Liberia Chamber of Mines in a bid to review and revise Liberia’s mineral royalty tax structure to better serve the interests of the country and its citizens.
The landmark meeting, which marks the beginning of the Committee’s broader stakeholder consultations, focused on examining the current state of Liberia’s mining sector and identifying areas where legislative and regulatory reforms are necessary.
“This is our first stakeholder engagement. Our primary focus is to understand the progress made in the mining sector over the years, the challenges that persist, and whether existing legislation is adequate to guide the sector in today’s global context,” said Rep. Sokan.
He emphasized the need for a review of the royalty formula, noting that the current rates are too low and short-change the Liberian people.
Rep. Sokan added that the Committee is examining whether the tax and compliance regimes are working as intended, and whether new regulations or laws are needed to bridge existing legislative gaps.
“We must determine if our legal framework is clear enough to guide investors and ensure that Liberia benefits fairly from its natural resources,” he stressed.
On behalf of the Liberia Chamber of Mines, President Mr. Amara Kamara welcomed the Committee’s oversight initiative and expressed support for a collaborative approach to reform.
Mr. Kamara emphasized the Chamber’s commitment to promoting investor confidence through a stable and transparent legal environment, ensuring respect for host communities and full adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, and advocating for competitive tax and royalty structures that reflect the risks associated with investing in Liberia’s extractive industries.
“We must create an environment where both the state and investors can thrive. Foreign direct investment is critical to meeting our national development goals, but it must be structured to yield mutually beneficial outcomes,” Kamara asserts.
As a way forward, both parties agreed to convene a two-day roundtable session in July, bringing together key stakeholders from across the mining and energy sectors. The goal is to deepen understanding of the sector’s challenges and collaborate on crafting modern, effective policies to regulate and transform the industry for the benefit of all Liberians.
The meeting was attended by members of the House Committee and officials of the Liberia Chamber of .
