Africa-Press – Liberia. ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal has commended Liberia’s steady progress over the last two decades.
Mr Mittal described Liberia as a beacon of resilience, growth, and potential. He, made the remarks during the official dedication of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s $1.4 billion iron ore concentrator on June 5, 2025, at Tokadeh in Nimba County.
In his speech, Mr. Mittal reflected on his long-standing relationship with Liberia, dating back to his first visit in 2005. He noted the visible transformation the country has undergone since then.
“When I came in 2005, there was hardly any electricity in the town. And now you see the electricity, you see the roads, you see the comfort, you see the progress,” Mr. Mittal said, praising Liberia’s advancements and expressing confidence in its development trajectory.
In his message was a warm and deeply personal acknowledgment of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, whom Mr. Mittal described as a trusted and admired leader. He recounted his early admiration for President Boakai’s leadership style during his tenure as Vice President under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
“I have seen, I have known President Boakai when he was the Vice President… and I have always admired him. Even after he left office, I sent him a letter where I felt that he has a great future to serve this country,” Mr. Mittal disclosed.
Their longstanding rapport was further demonstrated by Mr. Mittal’s appreciation for the President’s continued engagement on community and infrastructure matters.
He highlighted President Boakai’s consistent focus on social development programs, including the Ganta-Yekepa Road project and vocational education.
“He always discusses with me about community… So, all these messages we have taken very seriously,” Mr. Mittal said, reinforcing ArcelorMittal’s commitment to improving schools, training centers, and roads in host communities.
Mr. Mittal also praised Liberia’s recent diplomatic milestone—its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council—describing the achievement as a testament to President Boakai’s leadership on the global stage.
“It was unbelievable, but because of your leadership, President Boakai, you have gained this appreciation, and you have gained the seat in the United Nations Security Council,” he noted.
He described the dedication of the concentrator as “just the beginning” of a larger journey and reaffirmed ArcelorMittal’s massive commitment to Liberia. With over $3 billion in total investment and over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs created, he said the company’s ongoing expansion is rooted in its strong belief in Liberia’s future.
“We could not have spent $3 billion if we did not have the confidence and trust in the country and the people of Liberia,” Mr. Mittal emphasized
The ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman reiterated the need for continued partnership and expressed optimism for Liberia’s future, pledging to spend more time in the country and deepen cooperation with the government.
The dedication of the concentrator marks a major milestone in Liberia’s mining sector and is seen as a powerful symbol of private sector confidence in the country’s peace, governance, and development outlook.
Built entirely by AML, the concentrator is a state-of-the-art processing facility designed to upgrade raw iron ore into high-grade iron ore concentrate for export.
The concentrator will increase the iron content of raw ore by removing impurities like silica and clay. This process turns lower-grade Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) into high-quality iron ore concentrate that commands higher prices on the global market.
It means Liberia no longer exports just raw ore, but it will now export a more refined, valuable product, because processed ore is of higher quality, it can be exported in greater quantities and sold at better prices.
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