The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) on November 22, 2022 held a one-day stakeholders’ consultation in Weajue, Grand Cape Mount County in favor of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation for the operation of its proposed underground gold mine project in Weajue.
Bea Mountain Mining Corporation submitted an Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment (ESIA) report seeking an environmental permit from the EPA to begin mining operations, consistent with the Environmental Protection and Management Law and the 2021 Revised ESIA Regime of Liberia. Considering the nature of the project, a stakeholders' consultation was held in Weajue with project affected communities, relevant ministries, agencies, and commissions of the government of Liberia, community-based organizations, the Proponent or company owner, artisanal miners, among others.
This exercise is consistent with the Environmental Protection and Management Law and the 2021 ESIA Regime of Liberia as the final stage of the ESIA process. The stakeholders meeting attracted elders, women and youth representatives of the project-affected communities, representatives of relevant government ministries, agencies, and commissions.
The ESIA report was developed and submitted to the EPA in August 2022 on behalf of Bea Mountain by its consultants, Petra Resources, Inc. (a local consultant) and ABS Africa Sustainability Advisors (an international consultant). The report contains an Environmental and Social Management (ESMP) that provides practical potential mitigation measures on the proponent’s plan to address potential environmental and social impacts that may arise during the implementation of the project.