ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) is currently undergoing high-stakes compliance inspection, placing the country’s largest mining investment under renewed scrutiny amid growing concerns over safety, local benefits, and infrastructure commitments.
The National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), headed by Director General Hanson Kiazolu, is leading a multi-departmental delegation part of a sweeping monitoring mission targeting AML’s operations across Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties.
According to the NBC statement, the exercise signals a tougher posture by the government to ensure that concession agreements translate into tangible gains for ordinary Liberians. The inspection opened with a closed-door meeting between NBC officials and AML’s senior management, led by Chief Executive Officer Michiel Van der Merwe, who reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its contractual obligations and long-term investment in Liberia.
AML says it has poured approximately US$3.5 billion into Liberia since 2005, one of the largest private sector investments in the country’s history, revamping railways, port facilities, power systems, and mining infrastructure. The company also reports a sharp increase in iron ore production capacity, from 5 million tons annually to 10 million tons in 2025, with ambitious plans to double that output by 2027.
Despite these figures, NBC officials are pressing for deeper accountability. Key issues raised during the engagement included persistent concerns over railway safety, particularly for communities along the rail corridor, and whether Liberian businesses and workers are fully benefiting from the concession.
Moreover, NBC questioned AML’s future expansion plans, including the potential construction of an additional railway line to support increased production. In response, AML management indicated that expansion efforts are already underway, including upgrades to its rail and port systems, and the construction of a new concentrator at Tokadeh.
The company maintains that it’s making meaningful contributions to the Liberian economy, citing more than 11,700 direct jobs, of which 89 percent are held by Liberians, and over US$53 million paid into the County Social Development Fund for community projects.
Beyond mining, AML highlighted its investments in social services, including schools, scholarship programs for students abroad, and healthcare facilities in Yekepa and Buchanan. Still, the NBC’s presence underscores mounting pressure on concessionaires to move beyond promises and deliver measurable impact. Officials say the ongoing mission is part of a broader decentralization push to tighten oversight and increase direct engagement with affected communities.
As the inspection continues, attention now turns to whether the government will enforce stricter compliance measures or compel stronger commitments from one of its most powerful concession partners.
