AML approves Third Amendment in MDA

Monrovia, Liberia, March 25, 2025 – As part of its commitment to a shared railway model, ArcelorMittal Liberia says it has endorsed the User-Operator framework proposed in the Third Amendment to its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia.

This model, which is widely used for bulk commodity transport in Australia, Brazil, and Canada, has also been successfully implemented in neighboring Guinea.

AML has consented to the Rail System Operating Principles (RSOP) suggested by the Liberian government that ensures transparent and non-discriminatory rail operations.

Under this framework, a newly established Rail Authority will oversee standards, conduct inspections, and monitor compliance among all rail users. These new multi-user principles will take effect immediately.

ArcelorMittal points to Guinea as an example of a successful user-operator model. In Guinea’s bauxite mining sector, the Guinean government allows mining companies to invest in railway and port infrastructure, retain operational control, and provide access to other users. In return, these companies finance capital expenditures, allocate rail capacity, and contribute significantly to the national economy through taxes and royalties.

Under this model, mining firms operate the infrastructure they develop for 35 years, while ensuring shared access for other users.

 AML argues that Liberia should adopt a similar approach to encourage foreign investment in infrastructure development, rather than risks deterring investors with policies that favor external operators at the expense of established investors.

Despite recent discussions about transporting Guinean ore through Liberia, ArcelorMittal says the reality is that Guinea has resisted such proposals for more than four decades, and that now that the country has completed the Trans-Guinea Railway infrastructure, there is little reason to believe it will allow its resources to be exported through Liberia instead.

Given this backdrop, AML questions why any company would invest in Liberia’s railway and port infrastructure if the government intends to take control and hand management over to a third-party operator. The company argues that Liberia must learn from Guinea’s example by ensuring a sustainable, investor-friendly environment, while securing long-term economic benefits from its natural resources.

As Liberia moves forward with discussions on rail management, the company notes that key question is: Will the government embrace a model that attracts investment and fosters growth, or will it pursue policies that could deter future infrastructure development?

Notwithstanding, ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) says it is making major upgrades to the government-owned railway infrastructure as part of its expansion efforts, despite persistent misconceptions about its stance on shared rail usage.

The company recently granted more than two dozen journalists access to its facility for a rail tour to observe what it calls “real-time improvements” along the railway line.

The tour also highlighted construction of a new railway station in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County and installation of a digital monitoring system to track movement of locomotives to and from the port city.

The topic of railway use has sparked ongoing debate in Liberia, with accusations that AML is attempting to monopolize the rail corridor.

However, the company clarifies that it has consistently expressed its willingness to allow other mining firms to use the railway through a structured agreement that benefits the Liberian government and ensures fair business practices.

In 2021, the House of Representatives rejected an amended Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with AML, citing concerns that the agreement was monopolistic.

However, AML says it explicitly included a clause in the MDA, stating that if it were found to be sabotaging other companies’ access to the railway, the government could immediately remove it as the operator.

Investigation establishes that AML has not objected to any company using the railway, and Management maintains that stalling of a third-party rail use cannot be attributed to any form of blockade by AML.

ArcelorMittal Liberia remains that it has historically aligned with the Liberian government’s vision of developing a fully functional, multi-user railway system along the Buchanan Corridor, and has already invested more than $800 million in the rail infrastructure, significantly increasing its operational capacity. Editing by Jonathan Browne