In 2008, China Union invested US$2.6 billion to take over the Bong Mines, located about 150 kilometers northeast of the capital Monrovia. The company began shipping the first batch of iron ore in 2014.

However, Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closed the operations of China Union’s Iron Ore Bong Mines on August 28. The department pointed out that China Union's Iron Ore Bong Mines didn't obtain an effluent discharge license, built a processing plant without a license, and discharged tailings into wetlands.

Currently, China Union has requested a temporary reprieve after the shutdown and promised to comply with applicable laws. The company said that the EPA conditionally allowed the company to continue operations for the next three months while regularizing its status.