MONROVIA, LIBERIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has temporarily lifted the moratorium on the export of Heavy Metal Sand (HMS), granting licensed exporters a 60-day window to ship stockpiled materials. The directive, issued on January 7, 2025, allows exporters who had prepared shipments before the moratorium to proceed with their operations during the grace period.
The measure, which takes immediate effect, aims to clear accumulated stockpiles while aligning future HMS exports with revised regulations recently endorsed by the President. The new regulations are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the management and oversight of Liberia’s HMS industry, ensuring sustainable practices and equitable revenue distribution.
Under the updated rules, HMS mining licenses will be restricted to a maximum of three operators. This limitation is intended to streamline oversight, minimize regulatory challenges, and enhance the government’s ability to collect revenue efficiently. Additionally, royalty payments for HMS exports have been increased from 3% to 8% and are now required upfront. This adjustment reflects the government’s commitment to securing a fair share of natural resource proceeds for the benefit of the country.
The implementation of these policies falls under the purview of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. These institutions have been tasked with ensuring compliance, transparency, and accountability in the HMS export process, a move seen as essential to achieving the administration’s resource governance goals.
President Boakai emphasized that these reforms represent a significant step toward improving the management of Liberia’s natural resources. He noted that the updated regulations align with his administration’s broader vision for sustainable economic growth. Speaking on the issue, he remarked, “These regulations are designed to strengthen our resource governance framework, ensuring that our natural resources contribute meaningfully to Liberia’s economic development and benefit all Liberians.”
The temporary lifting of the moratorium comes amid growing calls for transparency and efficiency in Liberia’s extractive industries. The HMS sector, in particular, has been the subject of scrutiny over its impact on local communities and the national economy. By imposing stricter controls and increasing royalties, the government seeks to address these concerns while fostering greater public trust in its management of the sector.
Stakeholders in the HMS industry have welcomed the grace period, seeing it as an opportunity to fulfill pending obligations while preparing to operate under the new regulatory framework. However, the success of these reforms will depend on effective enforcement and the government’s ability to prevent unauthorized exploitation and smuggling.
