Liberia Shuts Down Illegal Mine, Orders Water Cleanup

When residents of Korninga Chiefdom in Liberia woke up each morning, they faced an impossible choice: drink polluted water or go thirsty. But their government just took a major stand for their health.

On April 29, 2026, Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency shut down Nugget Era Mining Company for operating without an environmental permit. The gold mining operation had been running illegally across 32 claims, digging day and night near Zorballa Creek and destroying the community's main water source.

Oritha Bah, a mother of three in Kpayarmah Town, described how families were forced to let muddy water settle each morning before using it. "It is giving our children plenty of sickness," she said, explaining that residents needed daily medicine for stomach problems just to cope with the contaminated supply.

The EPA's February inspection revealed open mining pits with no water protection measures. Inspectors found round-the-clock operations that showed complete disregard for the surrounding environment and communities.

The Bright Side

The government response shows how seriously Liberia takes environmental protection. The EPA seized three hydraulic machines and ordered the company to stop all work immediately.

To restart operations, Nugget Era must now submit a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, create a management plan, restore the damaged land, and protect water sources. The company must also properly document all workers after failing to provide papers for foreign employees when asked.

The EPA made clear that size and ownership don't matter when it comes to following the law. "Liberia's natural resources must be developed responsibly, legally, and sustainably," the agency stated, promising further fines, equipment seizures, and court action if the company doesn't comply.

Liberia's legal framework backs up this enforcement. The Environmental Protection and Management Law of 2002 guarantees every person's right to a clean and healthy environment. The Minerals and Mining Law of 2000 requires companies to protect the environment, while the Public Health Law makes water pollution an offense.

Communities now have clear channels to report similar problems to the EPA, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, or the Gbarpolu County Council under the Local Government Act of 2018.

While residents still wait for their water to run clean again, they've seen their government choose people over profit.