Red Alert!! Solway Mining Ops in Liberia (Part II)

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Red Alert!! Solway Mining Ops in Liberia (Part II)

– Russia Pres. Putin’s Ties Reveal

Russian President Putin

IPNEWS: Sometime last week, the United States and its Allies sanctions task force announced that it has frozen more than US$330 billion in financial resources owned by Russia’s elite and the central bank since Moscow’s troops invaded Ukraine.

The Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Task Force (REPO) said in a joint statement that they had blocked US$30 billion in assets of Russian oligarchs and officials and immobilized US$300 billion owed by the Russian Central Bank.

They have also detained at least five luxury yachts and frozen opulent real estate owned by the country’s billionaires.

“Together, we will ensure that our sanctions continue to impose costs on Russia for its unprovoked and continuing aggression in Ukraine,” the group said in a statement released by the US Treasury.

The Liberian Factor

Solway Mining camp in Nimba county Liberia

On February 25, 2022, the Government of Liberia announced its support for the United States and its Allies against the invasion of the Russian Federation on the sovereignty of Ukraine and termed the invasion as ‘unacceptable’.

The Liberian government in a release stated that it supports the United Nations’ Resolution in 2014, calling on Russia to give peaceful dialogue a chance by sparing the lives of innocent Ukrainians and other foreign residents, including the protection for the sovereignty of Ukraine.

“Liberia joins the world in urging Russia to unconditionally ease hostilities, deescalate, allow diplomacy, and dialogue to take its course and bring relief to the peaceful people of Ukraine and the entire region.” The government of Liberia release noted.

In all this, the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper (IPNEWS) has uncovered that  Solway Mining tipped to begin mining explorations within the mounts Mbelle and Detton locations of Liberia, is being bankrolled by Russian multi-billionaire, Aleksandr Bronstein, with strong ties to the inner circle of Russian President, Vladmir Putin, including Alexey Mordashov, owner of the failed Putu Mining Operations in Liberia.

It quoted the Russian publication, Kommersant.ru, as revealed in 2020 that the Solway Group is run by the Estonian oligarch, Aleksandr Bronstein, and his son, Dan Bronstein.

Aleksandr Bronstein, with strong ties to the inner circle of Russian President, Vladmir Putin

Aleksandr Bronstein, according to the publication is a business magnate who founded Solway Investment in 2002, after chairing the board of directors of Siberian-Urals Aluminum Company, Russian bauxite, and aluminum producer that merged in 2007 with its main competitor in the country, Rusal, and Swiss trader Glencore.

The report states: “Aleksandr Bronstein has also been the head of several mining companies, after starting his career at Estonia’s Ministry of Forestry and Environment. He is reputedly well connected in the business and political world of both Estonia and Russia. Born in St. Petersburg to a family that left Russia to escape anti-Semitism, Aleksandr Bronstein is heavily involved in philanthropic activities for the Jewish community and has served as vice-president of the World Jewish Congress.”

Additionally, the merger report stated that Solway Investment’s arrival in Liberia marked its return to the African continent, as the company has held interests in Kaminex, which owns copper permits in the DRC. “The Liberian subsidiary has been run since last November by Morgan Alford Warmiller, who previously worked in import-export to Liberia and neighboring countries such as Ivory Coast, notably for EU Commodities and West Africa Rubber Traders.

Several other employees of the company, including geologists and executive director, Ben Davies, worked for Aureus Mining when the company operated the New Liberty gold mine in Liberia. Galia Nezhinsky, a crisis communication specialist, oversees part of the group’s public relations.”

IPNEWS further uncovered that Solway Investment Liberia’s ownership is attributed to Boimah Alford Morgan as the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

President Weah Admits Interest in Solway Mining Company

Pres. Weah at Ganta Retreat

Interestingly few days ago, President George Weah speaking with a cross-section of Nimbaians in Nimba County, the Liberia leader admits that he has an interest in the Solway Mining Company because it has a co-Liberian ownership.

There has been controversy about the granting of an exploration license to Solway by the Liberian Government. The Ministry of Mines granted Solway the right to explore mounts Mbelle and Detton in Nimba County which ArcelorMittal is also claiming ownership.

In December 2021, unimpeachable sources within diplomatic circles hinted the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper that Russian operatives were currently in consultation with high-profile members of the Liberian Senate, to stop the ongoing ratification of the much publicized US$800 million mineral development agreement between the Government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal Steel Liberia Limited.

The Russian lobby group of companies led by a Russian firm; Solway Investment Group was allegedly dashing out a huge sum to some members of the Liberian Senate through ‘chief negotiator’ Senator Jeremiah Koung of Nimba County to kill the ArcelorMittal Steel Liberia Limited deal.

Other high-profile personalities, who are said to be involved with the ongoing Russian lobby include popular talk show host Henry P. Costa, as chief propagandist against the passage of the ArcelorMittal Steel Liberia Limited deal.

As time passed it had been very rare that members of the Liberian Senate would agree to work on a project with Henry P. Costa. However, sources informed IPNEWS that the daily talk show host is on the same page with the Liberian Senate leading the media efforts while others including Senate Pro Tempore, Albert Chea are working on the Senate floor to ensure a blocking on the resumption of Legislative duties.

A mouthwatering USD$150,000 was said to have been dashed out to Mr. Henry Costa for commencement of the negative propaganda on the US$800 million mineral development agreement passage.

Senators allegedly into the Russian bribery web are Nimba County Senators, Jeremiah Koung, and Prince Y.  Johnson and a few others that stand to benefit millions from the Russians if they kill the Mittal Steel deal.

Another Western Diplomat told IPNEWS on condition of anonymity, that the “Russian Solway Investment Group, Ivanhoe Liberia, and HPX are breaking all kinds of laws to stop the deal.” “Liberia also risk sanctions if they allow the Russian company to use bribe to acquire Liberia’s natural resources.”

A source within ArcelorMittal Steel Liberia Limited narrates to IPNEWS that if Costa, the lawmakers, and the Russians get their way, at least 3,000 Liberians will lose their job opportunities.

The Government of Liberia stands to benefit US$80million per year in revenue that could stabilize the economy and reduce hardship.

Amidst uproar from some citizens of Nimba and Grand Bassa counties against the extension of the concession of Indian giant-steel company, ArcelorMittal, the Plenary of the Senate set up a specialized committee to conduct a fact-finding mission at the operational areas of the company as its sets to review the amended Mineral Development Agreement it signed with the Government of Liberia.

The six-member committee includes the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive, Senator Saah H. Joseph (Montserrado) as Chairman, Senators Jeremiah Koung (Nimba County), and Abraham Darius Dillon of (Montserrado County). Other members of the fact-finding committee are Senators Jonathan Boye Charles Sogbe (River Gee County) Augustine Chea (Sinoe County) and Boto Kanneh of Gbarpolu County.

The Agreement was forwarded to the Senate’s Joint Committee on Lands, Mines, Energy and Natural Resources; Concession and Investment; Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, and Judiciary were mandated by the Plenary to review and scrutinize the proposed agreement for further actions.

For more into this emerging story, log in to www.independentprobe.com

 

1 thought on “Red Alert!! Solway Mining Ops in Liberia (Part II)”

  1. Pingback: Solway is not own by a “Liberian Boy.”: Social Media Activist Questions Company’s “Liberian Ownership”  - Democracy Watch

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