Published: June 18, 2025
CAPITOL HILL — The House of Representatives has summoned ArcelorMittal Liberia to appear before its Committee on Investment and Concessions amid mounting concerns over the company’s continued control of Liberia’s only operational railway and the lack of legislative involvement in ongoing Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) renegotiations.
The move follows a formal communication from Rep. Dorwohn Twain Gleekia of Nimba County District #6, who urged the House to exercise its oversight authority regarding the 243-kilometer railway linking Yekepa in Nimba County to the Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County—currently operated exclusively by ArcelorMittal under its existing concession agreement.
“I wish to bring to the attention of this august body concerns being raised about the handling of the 243-kilometer railroad from Yekepa, Nimba to Buchanan, Grand Bassa being operated by ArcelorMittal Liberia,” Gleekia wrote.
Following deliberations, the House Plenary voted to mandate its Investment and Concessions Committee to probe the matter and invite both ArcelorMittal and the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC)—the Executive body overseeing the MDA talks—for a comprehensive briefing.
The Yekepa–Buchanan railway remains one of Liberia’s most strategic national assets, used primarily for transporting iron ore from ArcelorMittal’s operations in northern Nimba. However, stakeholders have raised persistent concerns about the company’s exclusive control over the rail and associated port infrastructure, calling for multi-user access and greater government oversight.
Citing Article 3 of the 1986 Constitution, which mandates coordination among all three branches of government, Rep. Gleekia stressed the need for legislative input in decisions affecting national infrastructure and natural resources.
“Coordination among the three branches of government is necessary,” he stated. “I therefore urge this body to invite the Inter-Ministerial Committee to update us on the ongoing negotiations, as well as concerns over the continued use of our 243-kilometer railroad by a single concessionaire.”
The IMC includes representatives from the Ministries of Mines and Energy, Justice, Finance and Development Planning, and State for Presidential Affairs. The committee has been leading discussions with ArcelorMittal on a third amendment to its 25-year MDA, which was submitted to the Legislature in 2021 but remains unratified.
Key sticking points in the negotiations include infrastructure access for third-party mining companies, fiscal terms, and commitments to local community development. With other mining companies such as Ivanhoe Liberia eyeing export routes via the same railway and port, calls for a multi-user framework have intensified.
Communities in both Nimba and Grand Bassa have also demanded more transparency and equitable benefit-sharing from ArcelorMittal’s operations, urging lawmakers not to rubber-stamp a new agreement without public input.
The House Committee on Investment and Concessions is expected to set a date for the hearing with ArcelorMittal and the IMC in the coming days.
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