Mining Consultants Trained as Liberia Advances Digital Licensing Reforms

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has conducted a one-day training and certification exercise for certified geologists and mining engineering consultancy firms as part of efforts to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the administration of Liberia’s mineral sector.

The training, held Thursday, November 12, at the Ministry’s central office in Monrovia, focused on licensing requirements, application procedures, regulatory compliance, and the use of the Ministry’s online application and payment systems.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Mines and Energy during the opening ceremony, Assistant Minister for Mines Sumo S. Momolu assured participants that the Ministry had made adequate preparations and provided relevant training materials to ensure the success of the exercise. He subsequently declared the training open.

Deputy Minister for Operations William S. Hines described the exercise as an important step toward strengthening the capacity of consultancy firms as the Ministry transitions from paper-based licensing procedures to an online system for acquiring exploration and mining licenses and permits.

He said the online application system, introduced in 2026, was now fully operational, making it necessary to equip consultants with the knowledge required to use the platform effectively.

Deputy Minister Hines urged participants to demonstrate patriotism, fairness, and professionalism in providing consultancy services to applicants seeking mineral rights.

“Please be fair to yourselves, your country, and to the applicants. If you know a company hiring your consultancy service does not have the proper documentation required to register into our system, please do not do business with them,” he cautioned.

He said the initiative was also intended to promote transparency and professionalism in the sector, particularly as the Ministry advances efforts to decentralize licensing processes.

Hines emphasized that the success of the new system would depend on how effectively trained professionals apply the knowledge acquired in their work. He encouraged participants to maintain regular communication with the Ministry whenever they encounter challenges or require clarification.

He added that certified professionals were expected to serve as compliance partners, helping ensure that mining-related activities conform to established laws, regulations, and professional standards.

Technical presentations were delivered by geologists, mining engineers, and other professionals from the Ministry and the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).

Assistant Director of the Liberia Geological Survey, Medecy Hessou, provided an overview of licensing application requirements and reporting procedures, including documentation needed for prospecting and mineral exploration licenses.

Hessou explained that applicants seeking prospecting licenses must submit proof of citizenship, notarized documents, passport-sized photographs of owners or shareholders, a letter of intent, application fee receipts, a work plan and budget, and evidence of financial capacity.

For mineral exploration license applications, he highlighted additional requirements, including articles of incorporation and business registration certificates.

Other presentations addressed requirements for mining, trading, and related licenses and permits; license inspection forms; procedures for completing application forms; and uploading company or client applications into the Ministry’s repository.

Participants were also introduced to updates on the online licensing portal, the LRA’s online payment system, and application procedures for groundwater exploration and borehole drilling permits.

Presenters included Emmanuel Witherspoon II of the Liberia Revenue Authority; Cooper Voker Pency, Director of the Mining Cadastre Administration System; Ben Toejaeh, Assistant Director of Mines; mining engineers Lassana Kanneh and James Smith; and Wynitta Gwaikolo-Mayson, Director of the Liberia Hydrological Service.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Siafa Mariy thanked the Ministry for organizing the exercise, describing it as an opportunity for professionals to strengthen their understanding of regulatory requirements and procedures governing the mineral sector.

Mariy also appealed to the presenters to make their lecture notes available to participants for further study and reference, particularly to help them identify and guard against fraudulent practices in the execution of their professional responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Leona M. Moore, Supervisor of the Ministry’s Customer Service Office, commended participants for their interest in improving their knowledge of the procedures governing consultancy services for applicants seeking mineral rights in Liberia.

Moore also praised the various departments within the Ministry for their collective efforts in organizing the exercise, describing their collaboration as essential to its success.

She encouraged participants and Ministry officials to sustain their cooperation and apply the knowledge acquired to improve service delivery and strengthen compliance within the mineral sector.