EPA reopens China Union – Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news

The EPA closed China Union Iron Ore Mines late last month due to numerous environmental violations.

Monrovia, September 6, 2024: Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reopened the China Union by granting it a temporary permit a few days after the company was closed for numerous environmental violations.

On August 28, 2024, the EPA closed the China Union Iron Ore Mines due to numerous environmental violations.

These include operating without an effluent discharge license and transporting ores via the Bong Mines railway without an environmental mitigation plan.
The company was also closed for constructing a new and medium tailings processing plant without environmental permits and discharging tailings into a nearby wetland without regulation.

However, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, the EPA announced that it had granted China Union a temporary permit, allowing the company to resume operations for three months.

The EPA suggested that permitting China Union to resume operations would allow the opportunity to fully comply with Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law (EMPL).

“The permit was issued following China Union’s payment of US$20,000 as part-payment of a US$120,000 fine imposed by the EPA,” an EPA release said Thursday.

“The company has also committed to adhering to the EMPL requirements.”

The EPA recalled that it ordered the closure of China Union due to the company’s failure to comply with environmental regulations.

Despite multiple efforts, including a field assessment at the China Union facility on June 18, 2023, the company was unresponsive to EPA’s invitation for a technical and administrative conference scheduled for June 27, 2024.

The EPA subsequently issued a “Notice of Fine” on June 28, 2024, to China Union and other mining operations in Gbarpolu County for violating Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law.

China Union was fined US$120,000, payable to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). Despite further reminders from the EPA, the company failed to meet the compliance requirements.

Under Section 95, subsections h and i of the EMPL, the EPA argued that China Union’s operations were temporarily shut down due to noncompliance, including failure to complete the required Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process and pay the imposed fine.

On September 2, 2024, China Union’s management acknowledged their violation of the EMPL and committed to achieving full compliance.

They officially appealed to the EPA for a temporary permit, seeking 3-6 months to rectify their status and achieve compliance.

“The company also requested a waiver of the fine, citing their lack of active operations over the past six months and emphasizing the importance of Public-Private Partnership,” the EPA explained.

In response to China Union’s appeal, the EPA has agreed to reopen the company under specific conditions.

The EPA has demanded that China Union pay US$20,000 into the Liberia Revenue Authority’s account as part of the US$120,000 fine.

“This payment has been made, as evidenced by the attached LRA receipt,” the release said.

It added that a three-month temporary permit has been issued to China Union, allowing them to regularize their operations while complying with the EMPL.

The receipt for the payment of the temporary permit fee is also attached.

The temporary permit is granted based on the settlement of these payments and the company’s commitment to compliance.
The EPA reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a clean, healthy, and safe environment for current and future generations.

It said it remains resolute to enforce Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law and ensure that all projects requiring an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment permit adhere to the law.