Western Cluster Breaks Silence 

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3 Mins Read

By Joseph Tumbey 

Western  Cluster  has breaking  silence  over  the ongoing  saga between  the Citizens of Bomi County and the Company  stating that Several profound changes in circumstances made it necessary to amend the Mineral Development Agreement; and one of   was that Western Clusters were not allowed access to the railway route used by NIOC from Mano River Congo to the Bomi Hills mine and the railway route used by LMC from the Bomi Hills mine to the Freeport, forcing Western Clusters to construct a new railway to transport iron ore produced by it. 

Address  the media  on Monday  January  30, 2023 in Monrovia. The  head of external  relations  administrators analyst   for  Western  cluster  Bomi office, Mr.Samuel Browne stated that, In 2022   Western sought to resume its operations  to facilitate its resumption of operations while (MOU) was executed between  Western  Cluster and the Liberian Government, pending the negotiation of an amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement. 

“The Mineral Development Agreement provides for its amendment due to profound change in circumstances. The Amendment will therefore consider all the profound changes, which have occurred since the Mineral Development Agreement was signed in August 2011 and one of these profound changes, among others, is that Vedanta Limited now owns 100% of Western Cluster Liberia WCL”, he  stated. 

According  to him, Since 2011, WCL has invested approximately US$300 million in the country, including payment for the concession rights; US$15.5 million payment to the Community Development Fund; construction of two major bridges – the Klay Junction Bridge and the Gui Town Bridge; upgrading and maintaining the Tubmanburg to St. Paul River Bridge Road; and several other communities and infrastructure development initiatives.

He noted that, their Memorandum of Understanding which is a temporary instrument that does not affect the Mineral Development Agreement, has been misrepresented in the public. 

“What is important to note is that under no parity of reasoning could WCL resume its operations after several years of suspension without an enabling intermediate agreement with the Liberian Government. The MOU is that enabling intermediate agreement; and pursuant to the MOU, WCL  has provided additional monetary contribution to upgrade and maintain the Tubmanburg to St. Paul River Bridge road, which was virtually impassable before. 

Also pursuant to the MOU, another payment of US$5 million was made for community development for Cape Mount County, Gbarpolu County and Bomi County. And further pursuant to the MOU, the road permit was granted by the Ministry of Public Works and the Class A Mining License was granted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy after a second and more contemporary review of the Feasibility Study”,  Western  Cluster Liberia head of external  relations  administrators analyst   for    Bomi County office, Mr.Samuel Browne  asserted. 

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