MONROVIA – With ‘Trumpocalypse’ raging ferocious across the globe, threatening economic apocalypse for peoples and nations, the need to pursue economic independence resting on domestic mobilization of resources is an utmost imperative. According to experts, this requires major economic stakeholders of the country, such as concessionaries, to reengineer their game with more innovation cascaded, and commitment to host country. One of the Liberia’s biggest postwar investors, ArcelorMittal, has already taken the first step, announcing a major expansion of production of up to 15m tons of ores per year – obviously coming with handsome dividends for government and the country. The Analyst’s Anthony Q. Jiffan reports.
ArcelorMittal-Liberia (AML), the country’s leading steel producer, is set to increase its iron ore production capacity from 5 million tons per year to an impressive 15 million tons upon the completion of its Phase Two Expansion Project.
The company says this significant growth will see 75% of the output as a blended product, positioning ArcelorMittal as a key player in global markets.
Winston Daryoue, AML’s Communication Manager, shared details of the ambitious project during a guided tour of the company’s Buchanan facilities in Grand Bassa County on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The expansion project will not only increase production but also create substantial employment opportunities for Liberians, he said.
Daryoue revealed that the completion of Phase Two will generate 1,000 new permanent jobs and 2,000 temporary jobs for locals, contributing to the country’s economic growth.
A critical part of the expansion is the ongoing upgrade of the railway infrastructure in 2025. ArcelorMittal is investing heavily in expanding the railway, which will now handle five ore wagon trains daily, each consisting of 120 wagons.
He stressed that this railway is key to transporting the expanded volume of iron ore efficiently and is part of ArcelorMittal’s commitment to strengthening Liberia’s infrastructure.
Daryoue emphasized that the company is fully aligned with the Government of Liberia’s vision for a multiuser rail system on the Buchanan Corridor, and that AML supports the User-Operator structure proposed in the Third Amendment.
This structure, he said, is proven successful in other major jurisdictions such as Australia, Brazil, and Canada, aims to ensure the efficient and transparent operation of the rail system, benefitting both the company and other users, including the government.
He further that AML has committed to a set of Rail System Operating Principles (RSOP) proposed by the Government of Liberia to ensure fair access and non-discriminatory rail operations.
He indicated that these principles are designed to safeguard the interests of both the government and the other rail users, promoting a transparent and efficient system for all stakeholders.
For his part, Marco Miranda, AML’s General Manager for Rail, highlighted the significant investments already made into the railway infrastructure. The company has committed $800 million to the 243-kilometer heavy-haul railway, designed to meet US heavy-haul standards.
This he said includes a complete steel sleeper replacement program for the entire stretch, upgrading from the wooden ties installed in 2010. In addition, the company is lengthening all nine loops to accommodate longer trains, while upgrading rail control systems and purchasing additional locomotives and 500 new wagons.
ArcelorMittal-Liberia’s investment in the country’s economy is not new, since 2005, the company has invested $US2.5 billion in Liberia’s mining sector, contributing to its growth and development.
Kleber Silva, the Executive Vice President and CEO of ArcelorMittal-Liberia, spoke enthusiastically about the long-term prospects of the project. He stated, “Bringing this project to fruition will cement our partnership with Liberia for decades to come and will bring a wide range of economic and social benefits to the country and our communities. We want to grow with Liberia, for Liberia, and I’m confident that when we look back on 2025, we’ll be proud of what we have achieved in our journey to growth.”
This year, ArcelorMittal-Liberia is also celebrating its 20th anniversary in the country. Daryoue marked the milestone by reflecting on the company’s longstanding commitment to Liberia’s development. “ArcelorMittal is proud to celebrate 20 years of operation in Liberia. We are excited to continue making significant strides in transforming Liberia’s mining sector while contributing to the nation’s economy and community development,” he said.
The Phase Two Expansion Project is poised to create long-lasting, positive impacts for Liberia, increasing the country’s capacity for mineral export and infrastructure development while generating employment and boosting the local economy.
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