-From Concession Companies
By Jessica Cox
Monrovia: The National Bureau of Concessions (NBC) has disclosed that more than US$23 million in unpaid taxes and penalties has been identified across several concession companies operating in Liberia. Speaking at the Ministry of Information, (MOI) on April 16, 2026, NBC Director General Hansen Kaizolu said the findings follow compliance audits conducted since he assumed office in November 2025.
According to the NBC, several concessionaires were found non-compliant with their Concession Agreements (CAs) and Mineral Development Agreements (MDAs), particularly in meeting tax obligations and reporting requirements.
Those cited include Western Cluster Liberia, which owes US$19 million in unpaid taxes; Hummingbird Resources, with US$3.5 million in unpaid taxes; and Equatorial Palm Oil Liberia (EPO), which owes US$500,000 in unpaid taxes.
The Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC) was separately fined US$25,000 for failing to meet reporting obligations, in what the NBC described as a breach of compliance requirements. Kaizolu disclosed that arrangements are being finalized in collaboration with the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to ensure that the unpaid taxes and penalties are recovered in line with national laws.
He noted that some of the affected companies have already begun making payments following engagements with the government. Meanwhile, APM Terminals Liberia was identified as fully compliant after a comprehensive audit and evaluation of its operations. The NBC further disclosed that compliance reports are nearing completion for several major concessionaires, including Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC), Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC), Maryland Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP), China Union Investment, and ArcelorMittal Liberia.
In addition, new audits are planned for Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, Bao Chico Resources, Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL), and Mango Palm, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen sector-wide compliance and accountability. Kaizolu emphasized that the concession sector remains vital to Liberia’s economy, contributing to revenue generation, employment, infrastructure development, and community support.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that both the government and concessionaires fulfill their respective obligations. “Our role is to ensure that these agreements are implemented in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner,” he said. The NBC also highlighted strengthened collaboration with international partners, including the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP), and UN Women, aimed at improving transparency and community participation in concession governance.
Through these partnerships, the Bureau is advancing initiatives such as Community-Based Monitoring to enhance accountability at the local level. In a related development, the NBC announced the completion of the verification and compliance audit of the Community Development Fund (CDF) for LIBINC Oil Palm, Inc., which is expected to result in the disbursement of over US$500,000 to citizens of District #5 in Grand Bassa County for development projects.
The Bureau also outlined ongoing institutional reforms, including workforce professionalization, digitization of compliance systems, and the introduction of public reporting tools such as its weekly bulletin, NBC Today.
Additionally, efforts are underway to establish an Inter-Ministerial Compliance Monitoring Framework to improve coordination among government institutions and streamline oversight activities. Kaizolu reaffirmed the NBC’s commitment to ensuring that concession agreements deliver tangible benefits to the Liberian people. “We will continue to enforce compliance and ensure that the sector contributes meaningfully to national development,” he said.
