When Liberia emerged from the ashes of civil war in the early 2000s, the nation stood at a crossroads struggling to rebuild its economy, restore infrastructure, and provide hope to a traumatized population.
In 2005, as the country took its first democratic steps toward peace and recovery, a major international investor arrived on the scene: ArcelorMittal.
Two decades later, the impact of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s presence is woven into the fabric of Liberia’s post-war progress economically, socially, and structurally.
ArcelorMittal was the first major foreign investor to sign a mineral development agreement (MDA) with the post-war Liberian government in August 2005. This agreement marked a revival of Liberia’s once-thriving iron ore sector, with a commitment to rehabilitate mining infrastructure that had collapsed during the civil war.
The company swiftly began work on the Yekepa-Buchanan iron ore corridor with emphasis on complete repair and revalorization of the broken railway. It rehabilitated the railway line connecting Nimba to Grand Bassa and restored the Buchanan Port, both of which had been idle and deteriorated for over a decade. These assets have since become key logistics arteries not only for AML’s operations but also for other commercial activities in Liberia.
Over the years, AML has become one of the largest private sector employers in the country. With over seven thousand direct and indirect jobs and thousands more to even be created as the company expands through contractors and service providers, ArcelorMittal has offered livelihoods to families across Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Bong Counties.
In 2021, with the signing of the Phase II expansion project, AML committed to even more jobs, including the construction of a state-of-the-art ore concentrator in Yekepa which is nearly dedication and expansion of rail and port facilities. This project is expected to create thousands more jobs for Liberians. A testament to this is the recent employment of 236 young people who are artisans and process operators all trained at the fully funded ArcelorMittal Training Academy in Yekepa.
Through its social development fund, ArcelorMittal has provided over $50 million to affected counties since 2007. These funds, disbursed annually at $3 million, have been used by local leaders to build schools, clinics, roads, and community centers.
In Grand Bassa, a modern government hospital wing now stands because of these funds. In Nimba, communities boast of new market buildings, guest houses, and feeder roads. While challenges remain in fund management, the company has been consistent in its contributions.
Understanding the importance of long-term investment in people, ArcelorMittal launched the AML Training Academy in Yekepa, modeled after global technical institutes. Since its establishment, the academy has graduated hundreds of young Liberians in mechanical, electrical, and mining engineering trades.
Nearly all of these graduates have gone on to work with AML gaining internationally recognized skills and upward mobility. The company also sponsors Liberians for higher education abroad, particularly in mining and metallurgy.
As one of Liberia’s largest taxpayers, ArcelorMittal has contributed over millions annually to the national treasury in taxes, royalties, and duties. These funds support government operations, infrastructure projects, and public service delivery.
During the height of the Ebola crisis in 2014 and again during COVID-19, AML was among the first private sector actors to provide emergency relief donating medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and food aid to affected communities and health workers.
More recently, AML has stepped up efforts in environmental management and community engagement. The company is restoring degraded land, conducting biodiversity studies, and ensuring its operations comply with international environmental standards.
Given ArcelorMittal Liberia’s demonstrable track record over the past two decades in reviving critical infrastructure, creating thousands of jobs, contributing millions in taxes, and investing heavily in human capital and community development, the Government of Liberia must fully embrace the company’s Phase II expansion.
This expansion represents not only a bold step toward modernizing the country’s mining sector but also a catalytic opportunity to deepen Liberia’s economic resilience, enhance industrial capacity, and position the nation as a competitive player in global iron ore production.
Supporting AML’s growth means securing more employment for Liberians, boosting government revenue, and ensuring long term, sustainable development driven by one of the most reliable and committed corporate partners in the country’s post war recovery journey.
