ArcelorMittal Liberia has reported a derailment on the rail track involving one of its locomotives en route from the mines in Yekepa to the port in Buchanan. This was due to the theft of railway fasteners by unknown individuals. AML has experienced a surge in the theft of rail ties and other metal fasteners that secure the tracks to the rail sleepers. No injuries or fatalities were recorded.
The incident happened in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 28, 2023, at Kilometer 32, around the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC), Grand Bassa County.
An inspection of the derailment site by ArcelorMittal Liberia is on-going to ascertain the level of damage caused by the incident. Normal production remains shut down because of the accident.
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s railway operations have suffered many similar attacks and sabotage by criminals who remove rail sleepers and fasteners, thereby posing huge risks of accidents on the track. The incident, as well as others in the past, has been reported to the Liberia National Police (LNP).
The management of ArcelorMittal Liberia condemns in the strongest terms these constant criminal attacks on its operations, and calls for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
ArcelorMittal is the world’s leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 17 countries. In 2020, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $53.3 billion and crude steel production of 71.5 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 58.0 million metric tonnes.