Controversy has arisen over two companies competing to take over mining at the Nimba Range, formerly operated by the LAMCO J. V. Company in Yekeba, Nimba County.

The Assistant Labor Minister for Trade Union Affairs has accused some unnamed officials of circumventing the normal procedure for selection of companies that should operate the Liberian mining industry

Assistant Minister George S. Mulbah who is a member of the 'Mineral Technical Committee' established by an Act of the Legislature approved in 2000 to regulate the mining industry for investment purposes, said only five companies had applied for the take-over bid of the Nimba Mines in Yekepa.

Mulbah named the LMN Group, the Global Infrastructure Holding Limited, the BHP Billton Company, WATCO, and a Chinese Company ac foreign companies competing for the mining industry.

According to him, BHP Billton which is the Largest Steele and Mining Company. was to be selected but it said it was holding on until the appropriate time.

Mulbah said for this reason, the committee preferred the Global Infrastructure Holding Limited, which was qualified and prepared to commence operations.

The Assistant Labor Minister for Trade Union Affairs further explained that the LMN was now seen bypassing the normal procedures established by law to grant permission to any concession aiming at operating in the Liberian mining industry.

Accordingly, he said the Mineral Technical Committee established by an Act of the Legislature approved in 2000, and perusing proposals or applications of companies wanting to do business with the Liberian mining industry, rests squarely within its purview.

He expressed "serious consternation over the attempt by some foreign investors to use political influence to acquire a confessional right for the operation of former LAMCO Mining Company in Yekepa." He said it was unfortunate that some key officials of government would choose to brush aside the normal procedure of selecting a company when they negotiated with the LMN Company.

The Assistant Minister however did not indicate attraction posed forward by the Global Infrastructure Holding Limited, which has led to its selection by the Mineral Technical Committee.

Recently, the LMN Group, the world's second larges steel producing company, has expressed interest in investing more than US$500 million in Liberia's mining industry. The LMN Group was specific in pointing out the Nimba Mines in Yekepa and promised all of the good that a people can benefit from a concession of its type and nature.

Speaking to newsmen at a local hotel in Monrovia over the weekend, Dr. Peter Carr and Mr. Dosi, executives of the London and Rotterdam-based LNM Group, said their entity has submitted a preliminary proposal to the Liberian Government for the construction, development and long term operation of the iron ore deposit in Yekepa, Nimba County.

Recently Carr and Dosi of the LMN Group disclosed that the proposal to the Liberian Government envisages an investment in excess of five hundred million USD.

"Production will restart within a year and about 1000 job opportunities during the reconstruction phase, while 3000 jobs would be available for Liberians with other opportunities for Liberian contractors.

Heading an eight-man delegation to Liberia, Dr. Carr and Mr. Dosi said most of the trained former employees of LAMCO would be employed upon resumption of the operation of their company, saying that other benefits for this country would include the refurbishing of damaged rail track linking Yekepa to the Port of Buchanan.

The LMN Group also spoke of rehabilitation of the Ganta-Yekapa road the revamping of the Engineering College at the University of Liberia for the training of some of its local staff if it is accepted to mine iron ore the Nimba Ranges.

Besides the LNM Group also plans to include portion of the Nimba mines into its steel plants around the world, providing captive market to prevent the mines from being affected by price fluctuation on the international market which had a devastating effect on Liberia's former iron mining operations.

They gave their company's profile, said it has an estimated overturns of more than 20 billions United States dollars in excess in 2004, and is currently operating in 14 countries across the world including Eastern Europe, America and parts of Africa, referencing South Africa and Algeria.

"Our company is also operating 17 associated coal and iron ore lines, several rail networks, five ports and a global shipping line with more than 150,000 global employees," Dr. Carr said.

The company disclosed how several multi-billion US dollars investments are eagerly awaiting the stabilization of the Liberian conflict to invest in the country, saying that the granting of their proposal by the Liberian Government through a transparent process would demonstrate confidence to the international community to invest in Liberia.

However, analysts observed that many a time, big companies with empty big promises exploited the resources of the country without any substantial benefit and development for the people..

Instead, "Most often, these big companies used the power that be and other officials to shoot their way into the country," an analysts said.

He pointed to the Oriental Timber Company which exploited the country without little or no benefit and the Lone Star Communications which promise to build a training institute and train Liberians is yet an empty promise.

Observers said the NTGL should therefore remain keen an watchful on those companies whose sole interest lies in exploiting the country with no or little benefit for the people.