Liberia River Poisoned: Gold Mine Blamed

Residents of Jikandor village in Liberia are abandoning their ancestral homes because the river they rely on has become toxic. They accuse Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, the country's largest gold producer, of polluting the water with cyanide, arsenic, and copper. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports, retrieved after being removed from the agency's website, indicate that the company's facilities repeatedly leaked contaminants at levels exceeding legal limits over several years.

Further investigation revealed that Bea Mountain failed to alert regulators promptly after a 2022 spill and obstructed government inspectors attempting to access its laboratory. Experts described the company's actions as sustained negligence. These incidents also expose the Liberian government's shortcomings in holding the company accountable, despite owning a 5% stake and possessing the legal authority to suspend licenses.

The gold mined by Bea Mountain is supplied to Swiss refiner MKS PAMP, which is part of the supply chains for major global companies. MKS PAMP stated it commissioned an independent assessment of the mine in early 2025 and plans a follow-up visit. The company warned it would terminate its relationship with Bea Mountain if improvements are not made.

Past reports dating back to 2012 flagged risks of river contamination and cyanide and arsenic exposure from the New Liberty mine. Despite these warnings and an initial $99,999 fine in 2018 (later reduced to $25,000), pollution incidents continued. In May 2022, a significant spill led to fish deaths, with the EPA confirming the cause was cyanide exposure above permissible limits. The company did not notify the community or EPA within the mandated 72 hours.

Following an EPA recommendation in May 2025, a legally binding agreement was reached for Bea Mountain to relocate and compensate Jikandor village. The company is now exploring new gold reserves elsewhere in Liberia, while the EPA states no entity is above the law.