AML Speech at Opening Plenary @ 09:00 am, Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Michiel van der Merwe
Chief Executive Officer, ArcelorMittal Liberia
Good morning.
Your Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., Honourable Ministers, government officials, distinguished guests, fellow industry leaders, investors, partners and delegates, all protocols observed.
On behalf of ArcelorMittal Liberia, I would like to thank the organisers for bringing together such an important gathering of stakeholders from across Liberia, Africa and beyond.
I would like to start today by emphasizing a sequence of numbers. One Two Three and Four.
One. As one company ArcelorMittal reopened Liberia’s Iron Ore Mining sector in 2011.
Two. Over the last two decades, ArcelorMittal has maintained its commitment to the country and the people of Liberia.
Three. ArcelorMittal has been successfully operated in Liberia through three different Presidential Administrations.
Four. ArcelorMittal investment in Liberia is currently just shy of four billion USD.
These are investments in mining, rail, port, power and social infrastructure.
It is an investment in jobs, skills and local businesses.
Most importantly, it is an investment in Liberia’s future.
Today, ArcelorMittal Liberia operates one of the most significant integrated mining operations in West Africa, connecting world-class iron ore deposits in Nimba County to Buchanan Port through a 245-kilometre railway.
Through this infrastructure and the thousands of Liberians who operate it every day, we are helping position Liberia as a strategic supplier of premium iron ore to global markets.
But our story is not just about one company.
It is about the role that mining and energy can play in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of economic growth and industrial development.
Around the world, demand for minerals is increasing as economies develop, urbanise and pursue lower-carbon futures.
Countries that can offer stable investment conditions, strong partnerships and high-quality resources are well placed to benefit from this opportunity.
Liberia has all these ingredients required to compete in the global economy.
It is endowed with significant mineral resources, a strategic location, and a government committed to attracting investment and driving economic development.
In order to convert Liberia’s potential into a long-term prosperity that benefits all Liberians, the required ingredients are Collaboration and Commitment.
Collaboration between government, industry, investors and communities.
And a Commitment to developing Liberian talent so that future generations can lead and sustain the industries we are building today.
At ArcelorMittal Liberia, we have seen first-hand what can be achieved when long-term partnerships are built on trust, commitment and a shared vision.
Our Phase II Expansion Project demonstrates our long-term commitment to Liberia as his investment is transforming ArcelorMittal Liberia into one of the most significant iron ore operations on the African continent.
The commissioning of Liberia’s first large-scale iron ore concentrator marks a major milestone, not only for our company but for the country.
It enables Liberia to move higher up the value chain by producing premium iron ore concentrate for international markets for current steel mills as well as the next generation of steel mills with lower carbon emissions technology.
Just as importantly, it demonstrates that Liberia can successfully attract and execute large-scale industrial investments that create jobs, build local capacity and strengthen national infrastructure.
In addition to constructing a first of its kind concentrator in Liberia, we are also proud to reopen a vital rail artery connecting our mines at Tokadeh to the Port of Buchanan.
Even though the rail and port facilities are assets that belong to the Government of Liberia, ArcelorMittal has invested $800 million to date to rehabilitate and expand capacity to ensure that it can support the future growth being planned by ArcelorMittal. While we exported under 5 million tons as recently as 2024, with this new concentrator we will ship over 20 million tons in 2027. That’s a quadrupling of tonnage exported from Liberia. We are also planning for future growth to 30 million tons at the mines, but our current railway expansion already supports this future growth, allowing for others to use the surplus capacity temporarily.
ArcelorMittal is fully committed to the desire of the three Presidential administrations that this Tokadeh to Buchanan Railway is a multiuser asset available for other companies to use. The recent Third Amendment to our Mineral Development Agreement, that was ratified earlier this year ensures that this is a railway open to all users, with the Government of Liberia deciding who else can utilize this infrastructure. These potential new rail users will only need to finance their own expansion needs, as AML has already made all the foundation investments.
The rules and regulations for the operation of this Tokadeh to Buchanan multiuser corridor were discussed at length by all three administrations over the past 10 years and is now being signed and sealed as the Rail Systems Operating Principles (RSOP). These principles include this railway being operated by an independent company starting in 2030.
The establishment of an independent rail operator marks a significant step in Liberia’s economic transformation. It demonstrates what can be achieved when government, investors, and industry work together to create the conditions for long-term growth. More importantly, it lays the foundation for a truly shared infrastructure platform that can unlock new mining opportunities, attract further investment, and accelerate national development. This vision of collaboration and shared prosperity extends beyond rail and mining and speaks directly to the collective effort required to build the Liberia we all want to see. ArcelorMittal is also in agreement with the Government of Liberia to create a National Rail Authority that would eventually create and oversee several other railway corridors as well in Liberia. ArcelorMittal wants to ensure that the operating principles of this independent Tokadeh to Buchanan Railway are recognized when this body is created.
No single company, government institution or investor can achieve all of Liberia’s goals alone.
But together, we can create an environment where investment thrives, industries grow and communities prosper.
ArcelorMittal Liberia remains committed to playing its part in that journey.
We’ve played this part for the last twenty years and we are ready to do so for another forty years or more.
One, Two, Three, Four. What are we waiting for?
Thank you, and I wish everyone a productive and successful conference.
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