The Ministry of Mines and Energy has told every Class C artisanal license holder to park the bulldozers—unless the Ministry put them there.
In a notice signed by Minister *R. Matenokay Tingban*, Assistant Minister for Mines *S. Sumo Momolu*, and Deputy Minister for Operations *William S. Hines*, the Ministry says heavy earth-moving equipment is banned on Class C sites without written authorization.
*Why the hammer dropped now*
Field teams report a rise in mechanized digging masquerading as “small-scale” work.
The cost shows up fast: torn land, muddy creeks, pit collapses, boundary fights, and fees the government never sees.
Class C permits were built for hand tools and community labor, not for machines that can gut a hillside before inspectors arrive.
*What happens to violators*
1. *Immediate suspension or revocation* of the mining license.
2. *Confiscation of equipment* found on site.
3. *Legal prosecution* where warranted.
County Mine Officers, Mining Agents, Field Inspectors, and Compliance Officers have been ordered to tighten patrols across all six mining regions in Liberia.
The message to claim holders is simple: stop the machines now, or lose the claim.
*What legal mechanization requires*
Operators who want to scale up must apply to the Ministry, meet environmental and safety standards, and receive written clearance. No letter, no engine.
The Ministry says this protects artisanal miners as much as it protects the forest—fair ground for those who follow the rules, and consequences for those who don’t.
*Rescue-TV/GAR-Liberia watchlist*
We’ll track: which counties see the first seizures, how many unauthorized machines are impounded in 30 days, and whether suspended licenses are publicly listed. Accountability that’s visible is accountability that works.
