Editing Liberia (section)

=== Major industries ===
==== Agriculture ====
{{Excerpt|Agriculture in Liberia}}Sustenance farming is popular in many areas of Liberia. Communities primarily grow upland rice, cassava, and vegetables, though cane sugar distillation and coal mining provide job opportunity diversification.<ref name=":6" />

Traditional farming systems, such as intercropping and agroforestry, could encourage biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These farming practices are largely used by local or native Liberian farmers. Use of other culturally significant crops such as rice or bitterball have been shown to increase nitrogen fixation in soil, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These changes have been shown to increase the resilience of food production and alleviate reduction in access to wild foods associated with the loss of forests. However, continued acquisition of land by palm oil and rubber plantations reduces household access to land, food, and water.<ref name=":7" />

Palm oil production is also a large part of Liberian agriculture and is largely controlled by the Malaysian palm oil company, Sime Darby. In 2009, Liberia granted one of its largest concessions to Sime Darby, despite local and international concern over the environmental impacts this could cause. Liberia, which has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world, was promised employment of roughly 30,000 by Sime Darby for palm oil production. Palm oil production is expected to increase as global demand for palm oil for food and biofuel increases. Rubber production in Liberia is mostly done through plantations and industrial agriculture. These industries can cause deforestation and have been shown to decrease the amount of land owned by locals according to a study done by the Cornell Land Project. They can also decrease local incomes by taking away the ability of locals to hunt for and trade bushmeat or grow crops to sell.<ref name=":6" />

==== Mining ====
Between 1960 and 1980, iron ore mining was the mainstay of the Liberian economy, contributing to more than 60 percent of export earnings. This came after former United States president Harry S. Truman encouraged foreign investment, leading some foreign companies to invest in Liberia’s mining sector. During this time, much of the mining done in Liberia was carried out by alluvial mining of small-scale operations, with estimates of over 100,000 artisanal miners in Liberia. However, with the onset of Liberia’s first civil war, much of the country’s productive infrastructure was destroyed and mining was brought to a virtual halt. The commencement of Liberia’s second civil war aggravated this trend.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last=Enaruvbe |first=G.O. |last2=Keculah |first2=K.M. |last3=Atedhor |first3=G.O. |last4=Osewole |first4=A.O. |date=January 2019 |title=Armed conflict and mining induced land-use transition in northern Nimba County, Liberia |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00597 |journal=Global Ecology and Conservation |volume=17 |pages=e00597 |doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00597 |issn=2351-9894|doi-access=free }}</ref>

After the end of Liberia’s second civil war, there was a sharp post-conflict increase in mining activities, rapid settlement expansion and increasing forest loss. This increased mining activity and associated forest loss threatens biodiversity, increases pressure on available agricultural land, especially land meant for sustenance agriculture, and increases potential exposure of the Liberian population to pollution from mining activities.<ref name=":8" /> Many of these iron and gold ore corporations which are increasingly dominating the Liberian economy are geared to satisfy the needs of the metropolitan economies and not the needs of the Liberian economy. This has led to the formation of economic islands which fail to have any “developing effect” on the economy as a whole. <sup>[237]</sup> Despite the stronger economic linkages artisanal mines have to local communities, investment in industrial mining by foreign companies has increased in post-conflict Liberia due to larger taxes and royalty payments received from industrial mines.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |last=Gräser |first=Melanie |date=October 2024 |title=Industrial versus artisanal mining: The effects on local employment in Liberia |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103389 |journal=Journal of Rural Studies |volume=111 |pages=103389 |doi=10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103389 |issn=0743-0167|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Liberian mining has also been shown to have negative effects on the Liberian environment. Post conflict mining has contributed to an increase in forest loss and air pollution. Though Liberia does possess environmental management tools such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), use of these tools and environmentally protective policy is still lacking. Harnessing of best practices in regards to agriculture and mining and valorizing local knowledge has been shown to be inadequate, meaning pressure on the environment is still heavy. Liberia’s mining industry also impacts food and water availability for many Liberian peoples, impacting household nutrition and income levels.<ref name=":8" />

Mining labor in Liberia has faced criticism from civil society groups and, notably, Joshua Obediah Zaza Arku, Inspector-General of Liberia’s Mines and Energy Ministry'. Aside from long hours and low wages, resistance movements and unions have been squashed by corporate and government entities, leading to outrage of the Liberian working class. On November 23, 1976, workers at the depleted iron ore mines at Bomi Hills went on strike demanding that, prior to the mine’s closing, they should be paid two months wage for each year they worked with the company. News reporters on the scene described random arrests and undue violence towards workers on strike. Many other instances of violence against laborers and the working class in Liberia have been recorded.<sup>[237]</sup> Liberia has seen many protests in its mining sector, mostly over poor working conditions and a perceived apathy towards the Liberian peoples. Some of the protests, such as the March 1, 2024 protest at Kinjor, have resulted in injuries and even deaths of Liberian miners. Protests and resistance continue today over poor working and living conditions.<ref name=":9" />

Gold, diamonds, and iron ore form the core minerals of the mining sector with a new Mineral Development Policy and Mining Code being put in place to attract foreign investments.<ref name=":10" /> In 2013, the mineral sector accounted for 11% of GDP in the country and the [[World Bank]] projected a further increase in the sector by 2017.<ref name=":11" />

'''Telecommunications'''{{Main|Communications in Liberia}}
There are six major newspapers in Liberia, and 65% of the population has a mobile phone service.
Much of Liberia's communications infrastructure was destroyed or plundered during the two civil wars (1989–1996 and 1999–2003).<ref name=reform>{{cite web | url=http://www.ppiaf.org/sites/ppiaf.org/files/publication/PPIAF-Impact-Stories-Reforming-Liberia-Telecom-Sector.pdf | title=PPIAF Supports Telecommunications Reform and Liberalization in Liberia | publisher=Public-Private Infrastructure Facility (PPIAF) | date=July 2011 | access-date=September 3, 2011 | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051911/http://www.ppiaf.org/sites/ppiaf.org/files/publication/PPIAF-Impact-Stories-Reforming-Liberia-Telecom-Sector.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> With low rates of adult literacy and high poverty rates, television and newspaper use is limited, leaving radio as the predominant means of communicating with the public.<ref>[http://www.audiencescapes.org/country-profiles-liberia-country-overview-quantitative-survey-qualitative-analysis-research "Introduction to Communication and Development in Liberia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307051722/http://www.audiencescapes.org/country-profiles-liberia-country-overview-quantitative-survey-qualitative-analysis-research |date=March 7, 2014 }}, AudienceScapes. Retrieved February 8, 2014.</ref>

==== Transportation ====
[[File:Downtown Monrovia 3348917715 67a2002529.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|The streets of downtown [[Monrovia]], March 2009]]{{Excerpt|Transportation in Liberia}}

==== Energy ====
{{Further|Energy in Liberia}}
Public electricity services are provided solely by the state-owned Liberia Electricity Corporation, which operates a small grid almost exclusively in the [[Greater Monrovia District]].<ref name="Options">{{cite web|url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRREGTOPENERGY/Resources/717305-1266613906108/Liberia_Energy_ESW_11-4-11web.pdf|title=Options for the Development of Liberia's Energy Sector|work=International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|publisher=World Bank Group|date=2011|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=January 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108191259/http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRREGTOPENERGY/Resources/717305-1266613906108/Liberia_Energy_ESW_11-4-11web.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The vast majority of electric energy services is provided by small, privately owned [[Engine-generator|generators]]. At $0.54 per kWh, the cost of electricity in Liberia is among the highest in the world. Total capacity in 2013 was 20 MW, a sharp decline from a peak of 191 MW in 1989 before the wars.<ref name="Options"/>

The repair and expansion of the [[Mount Coffee Hydropower Project]], with a maximum capacity of 80 MW, was completed in 2018.<ref>{{cite news | first = Clair | last = MacDougall | title=Liberia: Stepping Back Into The Light? | newspaper=ThinkPressAfrica|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> Construction of three new [[heavy fuel oil]] power plants is expected to boost electrical capacity by 38 MW.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201311280681.html|title=Liberia: Massive Electrification Boost|newspaper=allAfrica.com|date=November 27, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=January 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108192806/https://allafrica.com/stories/201311280681.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Liberia began importing power from neighboring Ivory Coast and Guinea through the [[West African Power Pool]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Teh |url=http://cmiliberia.org/blog/2013/07/30/behind-the-power-switch-in-nimba-an-optimism-for-vibtant-economy/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140609061323/http://cmiliberia.org/blog/2013/07/30/behind-the-power-switch-in-nimba-an-optimism-for-vibtant-economy/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2014 |title=Behind The Power Switch in Nimba, An optimism for Vibrant Economy |newspaper=The News Pinnacle |date=July 30, 2013 }}</ref>

Liberia has begun exploration for offshore oil; unproven oil reserves may be in excess of one billion barrels.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFWEA839820091103 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120101525/http://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFWEA839820091103 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |title=Liberia may have over 1 bln barrels in oil resources |newspaper=Reuters Africa|date=November 3, 2009}}</ref> The government divided its offshore waters into 17 blocks and began auctioning off exploration licenses for the blocks in 2004, with further auctions in 2007 and 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040202005192/en/NOCAL-2004-Liberia-Offshore-Bid-Announcement|title=NOCAL 2004 Liberia Offshore Bid Round Announcement|work=Business Wire|date=February 2, 2004|access-date=June 21, 2011|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420231133/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040202005192/en/NOCAL-2004-Liberia-Offshore-Bid-Announcement|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=bidding>{{cite web|first=Natalie Obiko|last=Pearson|url=http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=53828|title=Liberia Opens Bidding for 10 Offshore Oil Blocks|work=RigZone|date=December 10, 2007|access-date=June 21, 2011|archive-date=March 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330155653/http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=53828|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{cite web|url=https://www.psg.deloitte.com/NewsLicensingRounds_LR_0909.asp|title=Third Liberian Offshore Petroleum Licensing Round 2009|work=Deloitte Petroleum Services|publisher=Deloitte|date=August 27, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104072748/https://www.psg.deloitte.com/NewsLicensingRounds_LR_0909.asp|archive-date=November 4, 2013}}</ref> An additional 13 ultra-deep offshore blocks were demarcated in 2011 and planned for auction.<ref name=":11">{{cite web |first=Alphonso |last=Toweh |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE76K01J20110721?sp=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119002810/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE76K01J20110721?sp=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |title=Liberia marks out new oil blocks, auction seen soon |work=Reuters |date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> Among the companies to have won licenses are [[Repsol YPF]], [[Chevron Corporation]], and [[Woodside Petroleum]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Ansu |last=Konneh |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-30/chevron-liberia-sign-deepwater-offshore-exploration-agreement.html |title=Chevron, Liberia Sign Deepwater Offshore Exploration Agreement |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2017 |archive-date=September 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909022554/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-30/chevron-liberia-sign-deepwater-offshore-exploration-agreement.html |url-status=live }}</ref>