Why Liberia?

History of Diamond Mining in Liberia

The history of diamond mining in Liberia dates back to the 1930s, when commercial diamond mining began in the country. Liberia is located in West Africa and is known for its rich mineral resources, including diamonds, gold, and iron ore. The country’s diamond mining industry has gone through several phases, including periods of boom and bust, as well as periods of conflict and instability.

The first commercial diamond mining operation in Liberia was established in 1930 by the American-owned Liberia Mining Company (LMC). LMC operated the Bomi Hills mine, which produced diamonds and iron ore. The company was acquired by the British-owned African Explosives and Industries (AEI) in 1956 and continued to operate until the 1970s.

In the 1980s, Liberia’s diamond mining industry experienced a boom as small-scale miners began to exploit alluvial diamond deposits in the country. Alluvial diamond mining involves the extraction of diamonds from the gravel and sand that is deposited along riverbeds and in other waterways. The boom in alluvial diamond mining led to an increase in production, with estimates suggesting that Liberia’s diamond exports rose from less than $1 million in 1985 to more than $100 million in 1989.

However, the boom in diamond mining also led to a rise in conflict and instability in Liberia. In the late 1980s, Liberia was embroiled in a civil war that lasted for more than a decade. The war was fueled, in part, by the country’s diamond wealth. Rebel groups and warlords used diamond profits to finance their activities, and the diamond trade became a major source of conflict and violence.

In 2003, the war in Liberia came to an end, and the country began to rebuild its mining sector. The government introduced new regulations and policies aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the diamond industry. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, an international system for certifying the origin of rough diamonds, was also adopted in Liberia to ensure that the country’s diamonds were not being used to finance conflict or human rights abuses.

Today, Liberia’s diamond mining industry is once again in a period of growth and development. The government has granted several large-scale mining licenses to international companies, and exploration and drilling activities are ongoing in various parts of the country. Liberia’s diamond reserves are estimated to be significant, and the country has the potential to become a major diamond producer in the coming years.

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