Africa-Press – Liberia. A joint committee of the Liberian Senate has praised ArcelorMittal Liberia’s concentrator project in Nimba County as a “landmark development” that will significantly boost Liberia’s economy, create jobs, and attract new foreign investment.
A high-powered Joint Committee of the Liberian Senate have toured ArcelorMittal Liberia’s (AML) operations in Nimba County, commending the company’s US$1.7 billion Phase II Expansion Project and its investments in health, education, housing, and vocational training.
Led by Grand Kru Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa, the delegation visited AML’s Tokadeh Mine, Yekepa facilities, and key community projects over the weekend. Senator Bartekwa described the concentrator project as a “landmark development” that will significantly boost Liberia’s economy, create jobs, and attract new foreign investment.
The assessment tour followed continuous accusations by Nimba Senator Nya D. Twayen, Jr., that the company has failed to implement key demands in the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), vowing to block extension of its agreement with the government if those demands are not met.
“This is not just about mining — it’s about transforming Liberia’s economy and improving lives,” Bartekwa said. “What we have seen here today demonstrates a real commitment by ArcelorMittal to its Mineral Development Agreement and to the people of Liberia.”
Investments in Jobs and Skills Development
The Senators praised AML’s Vocational Training Center (VTC), where over 200 Liberians are currently enrolled in technical disciplines, including electricity, welding, auto mechanics, and heavy-duty equipment operations.
Graduates of the VTC are now serving as permanent employees and even trainers, passing on knowledge to the next generation.
Bartekwa cited the story of Mr. Terah Fray, who was once a trainee and is now a lead trainer at the VTC, as a shining example of AML’s focus on building local capacity.
The company has also expanded its training programs beyond its facilities, supporting vocational schools such as the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata and the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC).
Additionally, AML has launched mobile training workshops in Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa Counties to prepare more young Liberians for technical careers.
At AML’s hospital in Yekepa, the Senate Committee expressed admiration for the facility’s quality and reach. The hospital, run by Liberian doctors and specialists, serves both employees and residents of surrounding communities.
More than 70% of its patients are non-AML residents, who pay a token fee of just L$50. Security forces and government workers receive free care.
The hospital is being upgraded from 57 to 100 beds by 2026 and is already equipped with two theaters that conduct advanced surgeries.
The senators applauded AML for investing in healthcare that strengthens national capacity and saves lives, as well as Education and Community Support, Housing, and Infrastructure.
They also inspected AML’s high school in Yekepa, which currently serves over 1,100 students, the majority of whom come from surrounding towns and villages.
AML subsidizes tuition for employees’ children, while also ensuring access for community students.
The school is equipped with a computer lab and a modern physics laboratory, which contributed to strong WASSCE results this year.
To ease transportation challenges, AML has procured three new school buses for the 2025/2026 academic year.
The Committee also welcomed AML’s ongoing renovation of more than 1,400 housing units in Yekepa and Buchanan, of which employees already occupy 419.
AML has also provided relocation allowances and alternative permanent housing options for families previously residing in temporary container units.
Additionally, management has pledged to construct a new road linking Sanniquellie to Yekepa, thereby improving regional accessibility and boosting local commerce.
AML Chief Operating Officer, Anthony P. Kocker, briefed the senators on the company’s strategic shift from direct ore shipment to value-added production.
The new concentrator, expected to be completed by December 2025, will process high-quality iron ore in Liberia, maximizing economic benefits and employment opportunities.
At the end of the tour, the Joint Committee praised AML for its commitment to long-term investment and community development but urged the company to continue strengthening corporate social responsibility in areas such as road maintenance and ongoing dialogue with host communities.
“We are impressed by what we have seen. This partnership between ArcelorMittal and Liberia must remain strong, transparent, and focused on uplifting our people,” Senator Bartekwa concluded.
With Phase II of AML’s expansion underway, the Senate Committee’s visit underscored a renewed spirit of cooperation between the government, the private sector, and local communities—positioning Liberia as a growing hub for responsible mining and sustainable development.
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