AML starts 20th Anniversary Celebrations In Yekepa -Launches Career Day Program

By: Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr. reports from Yekepa

MONROVIA – ArcelorMittal-Liberia is continuing its 20th anniversary celebration with a series of events in the City of Yekepa, Nimba County, the company’s mining area.

On Thursday, April 3, 2025, several activities took place in Yekepa, beginning with a Media Engagement and followed by a Career Launch Ceremony in the afternoon, honoring the Artisans in Training and Process Operator Learners.

Speakers at the event included students, trainers, senior managers, and ArcelorMittal’s Chief Executive Officers.

During the Career Launch Ceremony, ArcelorMittal-Liberia CEO Michael Vandermarwe praised the company’s staff for their unwavering commitment to its operations in Liberia. He expressed his excitement about working with the team and vowed to maintain the company’s strong relationship with its workforce across operational areas.

Vandermarwe emphasized that the company is proud of its employees’ expertise and hard work, promising that their efforts would be continuously acknowledged. He added that this career launch marks the beginning of a bright future for the employees.

Kleber Silva, CEO of ArcelorMittal Global Mining, also spoke during the career launch, expressing his gratitude to the students for being part of the company’s accomplishments. Silva highlighted that the event was a significant moment not only for the students but also for ArcelorMittal-Liberia, as the knowledge they gained would help elevate the company’s activities to the next level. Silva noted that ArcelorMittal has invested approximately $2.5 billion in Liberia over the past 20 years, marking a major contribution to the country’s mining sector, economy, and community development.

On behalf of the students, Barcho Toure expressed excitement about completing their training as Process Operator Learners and transitioning into the commissioning phase of ArcelorMittal’s operations. Toure described the achievement as a significant milestone and praised ArcelorMittal’s phase two concentrator project as a game-changer for the mining industry in Liberia. He noted that the project, designed to deliver 15 million tonnes per annum, would set a new standard of excellence in Liberia’s mining sector.

Earlier in the day, during the media engagement, ArcelorMittal-Liberia’s Communication Manager, Winston Daryoue, discussed the company’s expansion project, which he said would increase production and create substantial employment opportunities for Liberians.

Daryoue revealed that the completion of Phase Two would generate 1,000 new permanent jobs and 2,000 temporary jobs for locals, contributing to the country’s economic growth. He also emphasized the importance of the ongoing railway infrastructure upgrade, which will enable the transportation of an expanded volume of iron ore. ArcelorMittal is investing heavily in expanding the railway, which will now handle five ore wagon trains daily, each consisting of 120 wagons.

He highlighted that the railway is essential for efficiently transporting the increased volume of iron ore and is a key component of ArcelorMittal’s commitment to strengthening Liberia’s infrastructure.

Daryoue also reiterated that the company fully supports the Government of Liberia’s vision for a multiuser rail system on the Buchanan Corridor. He emphasized that ArcelorMittal-Liberia backs the User-Operator structure proposed in the Third Amendment, a structure that has been successful in other major jurisdictions such as Australia, Brazil, and Canada. This system aims to ensure the efficient and transparent operation of the rail system, benefitting both the company and other users, including the government.

Furthermore, Daryoue confirmed that ArcelorMittal-Liberia is committed to a set of Rail System Operating Principles (RSOP) proposed by the Government of Liberia. These principles aim to safeguard the interests of both the government and other rail users, promoting a transparent and efficient system for all stakeholders.