Electrifying Words of AML Training Beneficiary -‘Skill Development Holds Transformational Impact,’ He says

MONROVIA – Technical skills development cannot be overlooked in any developing country because it builds a skilled workforce, drives industrial growth, reduces unemployment, and empowers citizens to contribute meaningfully to national development. Without it, countries remain dependent, underproductive, and unable to harness local resources for economic transformation.

This is the message recently echoed by a newly trained Process Operator Barchue Toure who described his training experience at the ArcelorMittal Liberia Training Academy as nothing short of transformational.

Toure, a native of Bong County, is one of the latest young Liberians to benefit from the company’s robust technical capacity-building initiative—designed to equip locals with the practical knowledge and technical expertise needed to thrive in Liberia’s evolving mining industry.

Having successfully completed his training, Toure is now poised to join over one hundred Process Operators at the forefront of a groundbreaking national project: the construction and commissioning of ArcelorMittal’s world-class Iron Ore Concentrator Plant in Zolowee Town, Nimba County.

Speaking passionately about his journey, Toure reflected on his initial uncertainties and how they were gradually replaced by confidence and competence, thanks to the rigorous and comprehensive training he received.

“When I first started, I was filled with excitement and enthusiasm, but also a bit of uncertainty,” he admitted. “I had never worked in a mine before. As we embarked on this journey, it was eye-opening—it expanded my knowledge beyond what I ever imagined.”

The training program exposed Barchue and his peers to the core principles of mineral processing, covering a broad spectrum of skills, including equipment operation, machinery repair, systems maintenance, and modern ore beneficiation techniques. These skills are vital for transforming raw iron ore into high-grade products that meet international standards.

“This training was not just about learning—it was about growing. We are not just going to move iron, we are going to move history,” Toure emphasized with apparent pride. “Some people think we’re just here to participate, to blend in. But we didn’t come here to participate—we came to define the future of iron ore mining in West Africa.”

Toure commended ArcelorMittal Liberia’s commitment not only to technical excellence but also to Liberia’s broader national development. He said the company’s massive investment in local talent development and infrastructure is changing lives and charting a new direction for Liberia’s economy.

“What we’re doing here is far beyond image or profit. ArcelorMittal is investing in Liberia’s future. This Iron Ore Processing Plant is more than a structure—it’s a symbol of transformation, opportunity, and progress.”

Once operational, the concentrator is expected to triple the country’s iron ore output—from 5 million to 15 million metric tons annually. This is a key pillar of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Phase II expansion project, which is poised to solidify Liberia’s place as a competitive player in the global mining sector.

Beyond the statistics, Toure stressed the deeper, more personal impact of the training program. For many like him, it is a doorway to opportunity—a chance to gain meaningful employment, contribute to nation-building, and be part of something historic.

“Being part of this transformation is an honor,” he said. “It means my work will help shape a better Liberia. It means I have the tools to change my life and support my community. That’s the kind of impact that lasts.”

ArcelorMittal Liberia’s investment in human capital continues to be a cornerstone of its operations. Through the Training Academy, hundreds of young Liberians are being equipped with practical skills, opening pathways to career advancement in mining, mechanical engineering, electrical work, and more at the ArcelorMittal Training Academy.

Toure, along with 235 other young Liberians, has officially transitioned from trainee to full-time employee of ArcelorMittal Liberia after completing an intensive three-year technical training program at the ArcelorMittal Training Academy in Yekepa.

This group represents a new generation of highly skilled Liberian professionals—specifically trained to operate and maintain the state-of-the-art iron ore concentrator plant currently under construction near Zolowee, Nimba County.

Throughout the three-year program, ArcelorMittal Liberia made a substantial investment in their development. The company provided full residential accommodation, daily meals, monthly stipends, and hands-on training that fused classroom instruction with practical fieldwork—preparing them to take the helm of one of Liberia’s most ambitious industrial projects to date.

Their graduation and subsequent employment mark a historic milestone not only for the trainees themselves but for Liberia’s mining sector as a whole. For the first time in the nation’s history, Liberia is poised to shift from exporting only direct shipping ore (DSO) to producing high-grade iron ore concentrate—an industrial leap that promises to boost value addition, enhance export revenues, and deepen local content participation in the extractive industry.