‘WE ARE HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME’ -AML CEO Passionately Declares in Anniversary Oration

MONROVIA – In human as in corporate relationship, there are those who act like vultures; they come in when the palms and flowers are full and lustrous, but when drought sets in and all is dry and exhaustive, they flee away. With twenty years of Arcelormittal’s investment in Liberia, its Chief Executive Officer seemingly feels elated and comfortable with the relationship with the government and people of Liberia, and that the company has found a true home and family. Choked by emotions as he delivered remarks at ceremonies marking the 20^th Anniversary of the company sojourn in Liberia, CEO Michiel Vandermerwe declared that his company would not be, and act like, vultures or like those “fly by night” investors roaming all over the place, but is prepared to stay for good, even for generations to come. The Analyst reports.   

ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Chief Executive Officer, Michiel Vandermerwe, on Friday delivered a bold and optimistic message to Liberia during a colorful celebration marking the company’s 20th Anniversary of operations in the country.

Addressing a crowd of chiefs, elders, lawmakers, government officials, community leaders, and employees in Yekepa, Vandermerwe painted a powerful picture of growth, resilience, and enduring partnership between ArcelorMittal and Liberia.

“It’s a huge honor for us to be here today,” he said in remarks. “Let me say thank you to everyone – our observers, ministers, representatives from the different ministries, elders, and chiefs – for coming. It’s a big honor.”

Reflecting on the company’s entry into Liberia during the post-conflict recovery era, Vandermerwe said, “ArcelorMittal started operations in Liberia in 2005, nearly two years after the civil war. Some of you sitting here today were part of that founding team that began with the rebuild of the railway.”

Since then, he explained, the company has not turned its back on Liberia—even during moments of national difficulty.

“ArcelorMittal has stood with Liberia through Ebola, COVID-19, economic downturns, and other challenges.”

It is this consistency, he said, that has laid the foundation for ArcelorMittal’s Phase II Expansion Project—a massive transformation of Liberia’s mining sector and infrastructure.

“Our Phase II project is progressing rapidly, and we are now looking forward to the commissioning of the concentrator very soon—something we are extremely excited about,” he averred.

The CEO shared a personal and emotional highlight from the week while attending the graduation of young Liberians trained to become industrial operators and future engineers.

“Yesterday, I attended a historic ceremony celebrating the graduation of our first group of operators, now recognized as artisans, and some of whom will become engineers in the future.”

Their work, he noted, will be integral to the operations of ArcelorMittal across key mine sites. “They’ll be working in our operations at Mount Tokadeh, Gangra, and Yuelliton.”

But beyond the immediate employment, Vandermerwe pointed to a legacy that would extend for decades.

“Some of these graduates will, in 35 to 40 years, be retiring and remembering this very day. So take lots of photos—we’ll play them at their retirement parties.”

His statement captured a long-term commitment rarely voiced so explicitly by corporate leaders operating in developing nations.

He said: “We are blessed. The ore body we are mining in Nimba County will keep this region—and all of Liberia—buzzing for decades to come. Today’s generation will work here, their children will work here, and their grandchildren will too. And we still won’t be halfway through our reserves. That is a guarantee.”

Vandermerwe emphasized that Liberia’s young workforce is central to the future of ArcelorMittal.

“We’ve also been blessed with young, intelligent, hardworking people. What I saw yesterday gives me hope. These professionals, trained and experienced here, will become global citizens, able to work anywhere in the world.”

He then presented staggering production statistics that highlight Liberia’s emerging importance in global steel and mining supply chains. “In the past, we produced 3 to 5 million tons of ore annually. In the last quarter alone, we sold 2.04 million tons of saleable product—the highest in our history in Liberia.”

Now, with the concentrator nearing commissioning, the numbers are set to explode. “This year, we aim to produce 15 million tons. Once the concentrator is operational, we will ramp up to 15 million tons per annum, plus another 5 million tons of DSO product, bringing our total to 20 million tons per year—a five-fold increase compared to last year.”

This industrial leap, he explained, is supported by around-the-clock operations. “At any given moment, over 55 large dump trucks are hauling ore from mountaintops to the concentrator. We have a massive, ongoing operation, with women and men working 24/7 to make it all happen.”

ArcelorMittal is not only creating jobs but also deliberately stimulating local economies. “Today, ArcelorMittal employs more than 7,000 people. We encourage our employees to spend their salaries in local communities, stimulating local development.”

Already, tangible signs of development are emerging. “We’ve begun installing street lights and making other community upgrades, and more improvements are on the way.”

Friday’s ceremony was more than just a corporate milestone; it was, as Vandermerwe put it, a moment to reflect and recommit.

He put it this way: “This is a day to reflect on our journey and look ahead to an exciting future—for Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, and all of Liberia. ArcelorMittal has long been a major contributor to Liberia’s economy, particularly in the mining sector, and we’re committed to being here for generations to come.”

A Message from the Global CEO

To further emphasize top leadership support, Vandermerwe shared a message from ArcelorMittal’s Executive Vice President and CEO of Global Mining, Mr. Kleber Silva.

The message read: “To all our employees, partners, and communities—thank you for your unwavering support and love for ArcelorMittal Liberia over the years. I deeply appreciate all that you do. I look forward to being back in Liberia within a month to personally thank you again and celebrate the incredible progress we’re making together. Until then, keep up the great work.”

As the sun set on Yekepa that Friday evening, it was clear: this was not just a celebration of the past 20 years. It was the beginning of a new era for Liberia’s industrial future anchored by iron ore, powered by Liberians, and led by a company that says it is here to stay.