The groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), promises to revolutionize how the nation tracks, investigates, and responds to seismic and environmental threats.
The move comes in the wake of two earth tremors reported in Lofa County in 2024, which exposed Liberia’s lack of equipment and systems to properly record and analyze such incidents.
An EPA team dispatched to the affected areas found itself unable to determine the tremors’ causes, prompting urgent calls for a national monitoring system. That recommendation has now evolved into a full-fledged plan to build a state-of-the-art facility capable of delivering real-time data and reliable public information.
The journey toward this landmark project began in September 2024, when EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo attended the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. Acting on a recommendation from Liberia’s Ambassador to Germany and the IAEA, Her Excellency Youngor Sevelee Telewodah, Dr. Yarkpawolo initiated discussions with the CTBTO.
Momentum grew in September 2025 during the 69th IAEA General Conference, where Dr. Yarkpawolo was joined by Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah and Ambassador Telewodah. Together, they deepened negotiations and secured Liberia’s place in the CTBTO’s global monitoring framework.
By September 14, 2026, Liberia and the CTBTO held a high-level meeting to finalize discussions and begin preparations for the Centre. The Liberian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, alongside officials from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Mines and Energy.
The EPA has already commissioned a modern environmental laboratory in Monrovia, which will host the proposed Centre. The CTBTO is expected to provide cutting-edge equipment, computer systems, and specialized training to make the facility fully operational.
Once established, the Centre will connect Liberia to the CTBTO’s global monitoring network, which detects nuclear test explosions by tracking seismic activity, unusual atmospheric sounds, oceanic disturbances, and radioactive materials in the air.
For Liberia, this means unprecedented access to data that can help experts pinpoint the location and strength of earth tremors, distinguish natural seismic events from mining explosions, and assess potential tsunami threats along the nation’s vulnerable coastline.
Communities will benefit from timely, reliable information that reduces reliance on rumors and enhances public confidence during emergencies.
The Centre’s influence will extend far beyond seismic monitoring. Authorities will be able to integrate findings into national planning for roads, bridges, schools, and other public infrastructure, ensuring that geological risks are factored into development projects. Mining regulators will gain tools to differentiate between natural ground movements and explosions linked to quarrying, while coastal communities will enjoy improved preparedness against tsunami threats.
Environmental protection, agriculture, and public health will also stand to gain. By analyzing atmospheric, oceanic, and radioactive data, the Centre will help safeguard air quality, water sources, soil integrity, farms, food supplies, and coastal ecosystems.
The National Disaster Management Agency and other institutions will be better equipped to prepare for and respond to emergencies, strengthening Liberia’s resilience against environmental shocks.
A cornerstone of the initiative is capacity building. Specialized training will be offered to Liberian scientists, university students, geologists, health workers, and disaster-management professionals.
This investment in human capital ensures that the Centre will not only serve as a hub for data but also as a breeding ground for expertise, empowering a new generation of Liberian professionals to lead in environmental science and hazard response.
The EPA will coordinate operations in collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Health, and Mines and Energy, the Liberia Geological Survey, universities, and other relevant institutions. This multi-sectoral approach underscores the government’s commitment to a unified national response to environmental risks.
With discussions concluded, the roadmap now includes technical assessments, equipment installation, and personnel training. Once operational, the National Data Center will mark a turning point in Liberia’s ability to monitor earth tremors, investigate environmental hazards, and provide communities and government institutions with the information they need to respond effectively to potential risks.
