New US Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Toner, on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 paid a visit to ArcelorMittal Liberia concession area in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
While in Buchanan, Ambassaor Toner met with the senior management of the global steel company and had meaningful discussions with them.
A post on AML official Facebook account says, “We are pleased to have received as guests to our Buchanan Concession the United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Toner, and delegation.”
Ambassador Toner and team were received by Joseph Mathews, Head of Government and Community Relations, ArcelorMittal Mining, and Michiel Van Der Merwe, CEO of ArcelorMittal Liberia, as well as some members in top management.
During the visit, Ambassador Toner and team were fully briefed about various aspects of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s operations, ranging from the mines and railway, to the port and Phase II Expansion Project.
The U.S. Embassy delegation toured the AML Buchanan operational sites where they saw, first-hand, the level of progress on the construction of the new state-of-the-art rail and port facilities.
Ambassador Toner commended ArcelorMittal Liberia for the progress on its Phase II Expansion Project and said he looks forward to visiting the AML Yekepa Concession, especially the concentrator that is being built.
Sources say Ambassador Toner was impressed by the level of investment AML has made in Liberia, and expressed concerns over the company’s 3rd Mineral Development Agreement (MDA).
Ambassador Toner is said to have expressed interest in wanting to visit and also see, first hand, the ArcelorMittal Liberia mining site in Yakepa, Nimba County.
This is the new US ambassador’s first visit to a private investment firm since his arrival in Liberia.
Ambassador Mark Christopher Toner, a career diplomat, arrived in Liberia in mid-September 2024 as the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, replacing Michael A. McCarthy.
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Phase Two expansion is a key project aimed at tripling the company’s iron ore production in Liberia from 5 million tons per year to around 15 million tons annually.
The expansion involves substantial upgrades, including the construction of new mining facilities, processing plants, and the rehabilitation of rail and port infrastructure.
The project is expected to generate more jobs, contribute to the country’s economy, and improve the overall export capabilities of Liberia. Key elements of the expansion include the expansion of mining operations in Nimba County, including the opening of new mining areas and upgrading of equipment and processing facilities.
Also, as part of the Phase II Expansion, AML is rehabilitating and upgrading the existing 243km Yekepa-Buchanan railway and the Buchanan port to handle the increased production volume. This rail, according to AML, is critical for transporting iron ore from the mines to the port for export.
The company says the Phase Two Expansion will bring important economic benefits, including increased employment opportunities, improved infrastructure, and enhanced government revenues through royalties and taxes.
Mining insiders believe that the Phase II Expansion is a long-term commitment to the development of Liberia’s mining sector and the economy, and that the completion of the project could solidify Liberia’s position as a key iron ore exporter in West Africa.