MONROVIA – Early last year, ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) launched its phase two expansion project targeting about 30mtpa of ore production.
AML plans to invest a whopping 1.6 billion as overall cost for Phase 2 expansion even though its $1.2 billion 3rd mineral development agreement is yet to be approved by Liberian authorities.
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Chief Executive Officer, Jozephus Coenen recently disclosed that as the company honors its commitment to Liberia, by investing in various initiatives, working closely with the government to finalize ratification of the Third Amendment to its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA).
But these recent events follow almost 17 years of active and at times, limited work given the Ebola virus disease and the global outbreak of COVID-19.
Even in her difficult times, the steel giant refused to shut its doors and kept supporting the government and people of Liberia to kick out Ebola and covid.
For more than 18 years now, Liberians have identified AML as a key investor well positioned to contribute to the social, economic reconstruction of a county torn apart by war and destruction.
This is a dedicated responsibility AML has discharged with honor, paying all government taxes, royalties, and fees in time and in full to help government respond to the needs of the people.
ArcelorMittal’s County Social Development Fund (CSDF) is a major source of community development across Bassa, Bong and Nimba counties- helping to develop schools, hospitals, and educational facilities.
From responding to natural disasters to opening farm to market roads, and for the first-time ensuring pavement of Ganta-Yekepa Road.
ArcelorMittal has also established the reputation for been the concession with strong presence in the communities that host its mining and logistics operation
Reading the 2022 Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Report, we understand that how thirty-nine mining companies reported a total of US$45,243,496 in tax revenues across four agencies of government
Of the total amount collected in tax revenues from the mining sector, 4 companies (Arcelor Mittal, Bea Mountain, MNG Goal, and Hummingbird Resources) accounted for US$41,726,305 or 92.2% of total sector revenues.
In his $46.7 million, it is further noted that ArcelorMittal alone contributed a whopping $30,350,460 to the Liberia Revenue Authority and additional $661, 361, totaling 30,966,820.00
This amount paid by AML accounts for 47% of total revenue contributed by the extractive sector for which mining alone reported 68 distinct revenue streams for FY 2019/2020.
Fourteen out of the 68 revenue streams (20.5%) accounted for 93.2% of all tax revenues in the mining sector.
Royalties Iron Ore 4.5% (Mineral Mining) which accounted for US$13,573,695 (30%) is the largest contributor, followed by Wh (Res.)
On Salaries and Wages (US$12,900,695, (28.5%), and Social Contributions (Mineral Mining) (US$3, 3600,000, 7.4%).
These figures paint a clearer picture of how fundamental the operation of ArcelorMittal is, and that, just in case its 3rd mineral development agreement is approved, Liberia could be on its way to improved economic recovery.
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