IPNEWS-BOINSEN, Liberia: Lingering reports within the corridors of Turkish Mining Company, MNG Gold Liberia says, the company is on the verge of shutdown in Bong County.
According to sources, the decision comes over an alleged row between the Government of Liberia, and the Turkish gold mining company over consistent refusal to rectify the Mineral Development Agreement signed between the government of Liberia and the company in 2018.
Sources informed IPNEWS that authorities of MGN Gold had consistently persuaded officials of the Mines and Energy Ministry in allowing it continued its operations in the ‘Class A Mining License, to no avail.
Some workers who prefer anonymity told IPNEWS that there had been an influx of some senior government officials at the Mines demanding huge sums before its ratification. Those claims could not be independently verified as both officials of MNG Gold and Mines and Energy Ministry officials have refused to speak on the anticipated closure of MNG Gold in Bong County.
An insider of MNG Gold told IPNEWS, that a mass exodus of its nonessential staff is expected to begin on November 30, 2022.
IPNEWS understands that at least 600 Liberian workers and contractors will be laid off during this closure exercise as a result of the termination of contracts.
Amidst the reported termination of contracts by MNG Gold, contractors and newly hired laborers feared that they might just lose their servant benefits and salaries for the last three months owed them by authorities of MGN Gold, even though the claims could not also be verified as IPNEWS was informed that its government relations officer would address the Media within the next 72 hours.
IPNEWS hidden cameras filmed already washed, packed, and cleaned MGN Gold equipment for departure.
“As I speak, mining works have been stalled due to the latest development over the company’s planned departure, including the payment of contractor’s salaries and other benefits.”
“We are hearing information that the company will be closed because the government is requesting certain paper from the company, but the company isn’t providing it,” they said.
“As we speak, there’s no mining activity in that fence because they have washed those machines and packed them and just waiting” the anonymous workers disclosed to our reporter.
“We don’t even know whether they will settle it because it will render us jobless” One contractor narrates to IPNEWS.
Another contractor explained: “My son, we don’t even know what to do now. I have never even slept since I got the information. It will be good for us to be here hustling while they are working” one of the anonymous workers expressed.
Also speaking in a short mobile conversation, its Workers’ Union President, Obediah Diggs, couldn’t confirm or deny the information, however, told IPNEWS that the Worker’s Union and MNG Gold management are scheduled for a meeting on Monday, November 28 to have a clearer understanding before officially speaking to the media.
“What I heard in the corridor was verbal. I don’t give credence to oral conversations. When I meet them [management] officially on Monday, I will revert to you. That’s what I can say for now” Diggs told IPNEWS.
When contacted, MNG Gold Liberia’s public relations officer, Mark Gbarken denied the lingering report.
According to Mark Gbarken, such information has not officially reached his office.
“It’s not true. If it is, it will reach my office before going to the public” he told IPNEWS via phone, and hence declined to comment further.
The company has its operation area in Sayewheh Town, Boinsen district, 48 km from Gbarnga, Bong’s capital.
In 2018, MNG Group founded by Mehmet Nazif Günal in the 1970’s, acquired the Liberty Mining Company targeting production of 280,000 – 320,000 oz of gold from Liberia. MGNG Gold now controls 72.9% interest in TSX & AIM listed Avesoro Resources Inc. formerly Aureus Mining in 2016
Avesoro Holdings identified New Liberty Gold Mine as an attractive asset where it could bring its expertise to bear by Increasing production efficiency, Reducing fixed and operating costs, Bringing activities in-house, Mill Capacity 1.4 Mtpa crushed ore, Conventional gravity and CIL circuit, High-grade open pit Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve estimate of 17 million tonnes grading 2.49 g/t for 1,365,000 contained ounces of gold with a Combined Mineral Reserves of 7.4 Mt with 717 Koz of gold grading 3.0 g/t. Investigations continue!
In 2028, IPNEWS reported that water sources within the Saywehta Town, Kokoyah Statutory District in Bong County, was polluted by MNG-Gold .
According to the reports, a reservoir facility containing chemicals belonging to MNG-Gold, overflowed with rainwater and later spilled into the nearby Sein Creek-a major water source for residents in district which has now over spilled into other water sources in the Saywehta Town, Kokoyah Statutory District, Bong County.
In a phone conversation with Conde Yallah, Kokoyah Statutory District Superintendent, since the chemical spillage, some of the citizens have complained of suffering from persistent stomach pain, running stomach, skin disease, rash and bloody stool.
Yallah said residents heavily depend on the creek for livelihood.
He narrated that authorities of MNG-Gold have failed to provide proper medical treatment to those poisonous chemicals had allegedly made sick.
“People who frequently use the creek complained that despite the spillage barely a year ago, during the heavy downpour, the creek smells like some explosive materials,” Yallah claimed.
MNG–Gold is a Turkish Mining company working in several parts of Kokoyah District, in Bong County. The company took over from the American-Liberian Mining Company (AmLib) in 2013 following a mutual agreement between the two companies. The company began mining gold in August 28, 2015, with a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Under the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) signed between AmLib and the Liberian government in 2005, the company is required to ensure that the lives of citizens are protected from chemicals and to provide care for citizens in case of health problems arising from exposure to chemicals.
Under the MDA, MNG contributes US$12,000 a month or US$84,000 a year to Bong County’s Social Development Fund for its mining operations in the district.
It can be recalled on September 29, 2017, about 30 persons were admitted at the Phebe Hospital for exposure to a chemical spillover from MNG-Gold reservoir in Saywehta Town. The incident took place at one of the mining sites of MNG-Gold in the Kokoyah Statutory District after a heavy downpour. By: J. Peter S. Dennis
