The Authorities of the Republic of Liberia and ArcelorMittal have signed an modification to the present Mineral Improvement Settlement (MDA), which was yesterday ratified through the Liberian legislative course of, extending the period of the settlement to 2050, with a proper to resume for an additional 25 years.
The settlement the iron ore miner and metal producer stated “solidifies ArcelorMittal’s long-term mining growth and dedication to Liberia.” It additionally gives for the Authorities’s need to make the Tokadeh to Buchanan rail hall accessible to a number of customers.
The settlement, alongside the current inauguration of ArcelorMittal’s iron ore focus facility at Tokadeh in Nimba County, highlights Liberia’s rising stature as a aggressive and strategic hub for mineral improvement in West Africa. The state-of-the-art 20 Mt/y concentrator facility is likely one of the largest and most technologically superior iron ore beneficiation vegetation in Africa and was inaugurated in June 2025.
The brand new concentrator types the centrepiece of ArcelorMittal’s US$1.8 billion growth mission, bringing the corporate’s complete funding in Liberia to US$3.5 billion – the biggest overseas direct funding in Liberia’s post-war financial system. Along with the concentrator, the growth mission has concerned important funding within the rail infrastructure working between Tokadeh and Buchanan, upgrades to the present port infrastructure together with development of an extra berth on the port in Buchanan, and different infrastructure investments together with two energy vegetation.
The growth mission, which is nearing completion, will see iron ore shipments enhance from historic ranges of roughly 5 Mt/y to twenty Mt/y in 2026, alongside enhancements in product high quality to larger grade, larger worth ore. The corporate can also be enterprise feasibility research for additional growth of its iron ore asset past 20 Mt/y. For instance, ArcelorMittal has ambitions to additional develop capability at its Liberian mining operations, with plans below improvement for a phased enhance to 30 Mt of annual manufacturing capability, and choices being studied to provide DRI high quality focus.
In additional element, ArcelorMittal Liberia has been working at 5 Mt/y of direct delivery ore (DSO) since 2011 (Section 1) and restarted development of a concentrator and related infrastructure (Section 2). The operation now has a a number of product strategy (sinter feed and focus) following a revised mining plan and extra funding in materials dealing with, port infrastructure, lined stockpile and energy provide. The revised scope permits for an extra 5 Mt/y of blended product, bringing complete cargo capability to twenty Mt/y (beforehand 15 Mt/y). By mixing a portion of the brand new focus with crushed ore product, a sinter feed mix (>62% Fe) might be produced, growing Liberia’s marketable manufacturing. Of the focused 20 Mt, 75% or 15 Mt of sinter feed is to be made up of a mix of focus and crushed ore, and the remaining 25% or 5 Mt is to be high-grade focus.
The plan is to take care of these larger manufacturing charges, so ongoing research are exploring choices to develop the useful resource base of crushed mix ore, optimise mass restoration via the inclusion of regrinding and flotation circuits for the tailings, and enhance concentrator capability.
Mining is from open pit operations within the Nimba Vary – the place deposits encompass itabirites in a 250 to 450-m thick recrystallised iron formation. Though the iron deposits at Mt Tokadeh, Mt Gangra and Mt Yuelliton match the overall definition of itabirite as laminated metamorphosed oxide-facies iron formation, they’re of decrease iron grade than the ore beforehand mined on the Nimba deposit. Tropical weathering results have precipitated the decomposition of the rock forming minerals leading to enrichment within the iron content material that’s enough to assist a DSO operation and accordingly, at present, solely high-grade ore reserves of oxidised iron ore are mined. This ore solely requires crushing and screening to make it appropriate for export. The materials-handling operation consists of stockyards at each the mine and port areas, that are linked by a 250-km single monitor railway working from Mt Tokadeh to
the port of Buchanan.
The settlement makes provision for a multi-user settlement concerning the usage of the rail infrastructure, the place different customers who want to use this infrastructure are required to put money into its growth with a purpose to meet their transportation wants. ArcelorMittal is at present increasing the railway infrastructure so it might probably transport as much as 30 Mt of iron ore yearly, ought to the feasibility research it’s enterprise show profitable and a choice is taken to develop iron ore manufacturing past 20 Mt/y. This railway capability can be reserved for ArcelorMittal’s use.
Below the phrases of the settlement ArcelorMittal can pay US$200 million to the Authorities of Liberia for sure rights it acquires per the settlement, specifically the mining rights extension and reserved entry to railroad capability the corporate is investing in.
Commenting, His Excellency President Joseph Boakai, stated: “ArcelorMittal Liberia is one in all Liberia’s largest personal sector buyers and a number one employer within the nation. I welcome this Third Settlement to the concession settlement, which is able to unlock a serious growth of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s operations, with manufacturing growing to twenty million metric tonnes and projected to develop to 30 million metric tonnes. The settlement will set up an independently operated railway from October 2030, which is able to strengthen effectivity, promote multi-user entry, and deepen the general impression of the concession on the nationwide financial system. The settlement will present a major increase to Liberia’s financial system via elevated employment alternatives and enhanced progress in host communities. I imagine this new settlement is obvious testomony to Liberia’s investor pleasant local weather and the Authorities’s unwavering dedication to creating an enabling setting for companies to thrive.”
ArcelorMittal Government Chairman, Lakshmi Mittal, stated: “This settlement represents a defining second for each Liberia and ArcelorMittal. I have to thank President Boakai and his administration for his or her dedication to this partnership which is able to reinforce Liberia’s position in Africa’s mining sector. Having just lately inaugurated our state-of-the-art concentrator, the settlement additional cements our long-term presence and dedication to Liberia. We’re happy with the optimistic impression we’ve had on the nation over the past twenty years and stay up for many extra years of profitable partnership and shared ambition to create sustainable progress and safe long-term advantages for Liberia’s financial system and other people.”
ArcelorMittal has made a major impression on the event of Liberia’s financial system over the previous 20 years. It at present gives direct and oblique employment for about 8,000 folks, is one in all Liberia’s largest tax contributors and has made investments in a wide range of housing, healthcare and schooling tasks.
The amended settlement will ship higher advantages for communities close to ArcelorMittal’s operations and units the stage for transformative financial progress in Liberia. Over the following 25 years and past, Liberia will see a considerable rise in royalties and tax revenues because of ArcelorMittal’s important funding and expanded iron ore manufacturing. The quadrupling of output and exports in 2026 will drive Liberian GDP and ship wide-ranging financial advantages, together with creating new alternatives for native procurement and stimulating the expansion of small and medium-sized companies nationwide.
