Mineral legislation of Liberia

Abstract

Liberia is underlain predominantly by Archaean and Proterozoic terrain, which is highly prospective, especially for gold and diamonds. Although the country is now governed as a multi-party democracy, Liberia missed out on the boom in mineral exploration that took place elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa during the 1990s because of civil wars between 1989 and 1995. A new Minerals and Mining Law came into effect in September, 2000, and the provisions of this law for the licensing of exploration and mining are outlined together with the experience of one company, Mano River Resources, which has already negotiated mineral development agreements under the new law.