IPNEWSA modern analyzing equipment gheolofists use to carry out effective and rapid on-site research and analysis of black mineral sand has been provided to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, by the Quetz Mining Company and its partners including Glorious Mining.

The donation of the XRF machine, otherwise known as ‘X-Ray Fluorescent’, is the first gesture under the administration of Wilmot Paye as Minister of Mines and Energy, from a company. Turning the equipment over to the Mines and Energy Ministry, Quetz Mining Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Terreutius Collins, assured President Joseph Boakai’s government that he will continue to contribute to providing the level of support needed for the growth and development of Liberia.

Mr. Collins told the Deputy Minister for Administration, Madam Eudora Blay-Pritchard, who stood in the stead of Mines and Energy Minister, Wilmot Paye, that the XRF handheld machine will greatly assist the Ministry through its Geological section in analyzing various minerals extracted from heavy sand mining activities. The cost of the XRF equipment ranges from USD$25, 000 – USD$30,000. Responding to the donation, Deputy Minister Blay-Pritchard thanked Quetz Mining and their partner – Glorious, and said the machine came at a time it is much need. With Liberia being a coastal country, Deputy Minister Blay-Pritchard said the need for more of such simple machines to ease the work of Engineers at the mineral and Energy Ministry cannot be overemphasized.

She called on other companies involved with mining minerals here to emulate the example of Terreutius Collins and look in the direction of assisting the Ministry of Mines and Energy where necessary. Oliver Gbegbe, the Assistant Minister for Mineral Exploration and Environmental Research, whose office mainly needS the XRF machine, said some difficulties were being experienced in scientifically determining what quality of heavy sand minerals companies were actually taking out of Liberia for testing and analysis.

Now with the availability of the equipment, Assistant Minister Gbegbe noted that there will be a positive change in ensuring the right thing is done. The XRF machine was placed on display, presented to Deputy Minister Eudora Blay-Pritchard, who onward submitted it to the Director of the Liberia Geological Survey (LGS), Jefferson T. Chea, who immediately test-operated it on a quantity of available heavy black sand. The instrument performed real-time analysis on the sand mineral in the presence of those who attended the brief ceremony.

“We are so grateful for your partnership in making a difference”; Deputy Minister Eudora Blay-Pritchard concluded.