Monrovia – A letter from Senator James E. Risch, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has brought fresh scrutiny to the activities of High Power Exploration (HPX) in Liberia, particularly regarding its alignment with U.S. strategic interests in countering Chinese influence in Africa.
The letter, dated January 15, 2025, critiques the implementation of the Countering People’s Republic of China Influence Fund (CPIF), which HPX allegedly sought to exploit in an effort to lure the Liberian government into establishing the National Railway Authority (NRA) under the guise of countering Chinese mining interests in Liberia.
The CPIF is designed to fund initiatives aimed at countering the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence and debt diplomacy in partner nations. However, Senator Risch’s letter highlights significant missteps in the initiative’s application in Liberia. He states: “In September, I blocked a CPIF project supporting the establishment of a National Railway Authority in Liberia. SFRC oversight, including an on-site review in Liberia, revealed the project would not strengthen Liberia’s ability to compete with PRC-supported mining operations in the country or the PRC-backed railway in neighboring Guinea. Embassy staff admitted to leveraging CPIF’s broad guidelines to fabricate a counter-PRC nexus and to repurposing the initiative to address unrelated objectives. Liberian officials later confirmed, in writing, that the intervention was unnecessary.”
HPX and Critical Minerals Scrutiny
HPX, led by Canadian billionaire Robert Friedland, has become a controversial figure in Liberia’s mining sector. Critics argue that the company’s operations lack transparency and fail to align with broader U.S. strategies to counter China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains.
The HPX-backed push for the establishment of the NRA has also been linked to the stalled passage of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s third Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), which has lingered in legislative corridors for three years. The prolonged delay has stifled ArcelorMittal’s expansion plans, which promise to position Liberia as a leading mining hub in West Africa.
Negotiations Over Liberty Corridor Project
The Liberty Corridor, ambitious initiative, intended to connect Guinea and Liberia via a modern rail system, includes the development of a deep-water port at Didia, an upgraded road network in Nimba County, and an extended hydropower grid from Côte d’Ivoire. These infrastructural upgrades would facilitate HPX’s plans to transport iron ore from Guinea through Liberia.
However, the negotiations have hit a deadlock, with HPX accusing the Liberian government of unnecessary delays and the National Investment Commission (NIC) defending its actions as essential for ensuring accountability and transparency. In a letter dated August 23, 2024, HPX President and CEO Bronwyn Barnes expressed the company’s willingness to provide financial support for the NRA’s formation, stating, “We are prepared to provide budgetary support to the Government of Liberia for the formation and initial operations of the National Rail Authority. This demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that the rail management system operates under the highest international industry standards and with full transparency.”
Nonetheless, Barnes voiced frustrations in subsequent communications, accusing the NIC of repeated and redundant demands for documentation. In a letter dated November 27, 2024, she wrote, “The NIC appears to be suggesting that further progress in negotiating the Concession Access Agreement (CAA) is dependent on revisiting previous approvals… This casts doubt on the government’s commitment to timely resolution.” Barnes warned that continued delays might force HPX to invoke its remedy rights under the Framework Agreement.
The Liberian government, however, remains resolute. NIC Chairman Jeff B. Blibo emphasized the need for thorough due diligence, particularly in consultation with the Government of Guinea (GOG), to ensure the project’s legal and operational viability. Blibo’s November 28, 2024, letter defended the government’s approach: “Far from creating unnecessary delays, these requests are integral to advancing the negotiation process responsibly.”
Tensions Between HPX and Guinea
Compounding the challenges in Liberia is the situation on the Guinean side of the border. During a visit by The Liberian Investigator to HPX’s designated operational site in Guinea’s Gbakore, the area was eerily quiet. Guarded by armed soldiers and devoid of mining activity, the site’s stagnation underscores the broader difficulties facing the Liberty Corridor project. A rusting billboard reading “Société des Mines de Fer de Guinée” stands at the entrance, a stark reminder of stalled progress.
One guard’s remark—“Liberia, you finish chopping your own, now you want our own to pass through you. It won’t happen”—reflects the prevailing sentiment in Guinea. HPX has yet to secure approval from Guinea’s ruling junta to transport iron ore through Liberia, further complicating its ambitions.
The town of Lola, home to the SMFG office, paints a similar picture of stagnation. Overgrown grass engulfs the office premises, and security guards confirm minimal activity. According to a local guard, Guinea’s new government has stalled mining operations, insisting that HPX construct a railway entirely within Guinea. This position has clashed with HPX’s strategy to utilize Liberian infrastructure.
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