MONROVIA – In a statement released on Friday, September 19, 2025, Senator Nya D. Twayen of Nimba County publicly accused ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) of gross violations of its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia. The senator’s remarks follow months of investigations and public hearings that have scrutinized AML’s operations and their impact on local communities.
Senator Twayen made it clear that AML’s recent luxury tour of its concession area for lawmakers does not absolve the company of its contractual obligations. “Taking some Senators and Representatives for a luxury tour of AML’s concession area does not negate the fact that you are in gross violation of the Mineral Development Agreement,” he stated. He warned that until the people of Nimba and Liberia benefit according to the agreement, AML risks legal action or non-renewal of its concession.
The senator also cited AML’s admission under oath that its processing plant, previously valued at $1.4 billion, is in fact worth only $250 million. This revelation has sparked questions about AML’s transparency and its commitment to Liberia’s economic development.
Twayen’s accusations are supported by historical evidence of AML’s disregard for regulatory requirements. In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined the company $110,000 for environmental violations, including pollution of rivers and wetlands in Nimba County. Reports indicated that raw sewage was discharged into waterways and that AML failed to secure necessary permits for its wastewater treatment plant.
The senator pointed out that AML has failed to fulfill key obligations in its MDA, including providing $100,000 annually to the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy for research and development. “After 22 years, they haven’t given a dime,” Twayen said, noting that the Ministry confirmed it had never received the funds.
Human rights groups have also criticized AML’s operations, alleging unsafe working conditions, wrongful deaths, and harsh labor practices. These claims have led to calls from international advocacy organizations for banks and investors to reconsider supporting AML until it addresses these serious issues.
Speaking at a Senate Committee public hearing on July 10, 2025, Twayen described the long-term neglect of communities in Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties. “For too long, we’ve seen our people deprived of incentives and livelihoods by concessionaires ripping this country off,” he said. “We were born and raised to know Liberia is rich, yet we remain poor.”
The senator also criticized AML’s claimed $1.8 billion investment, which includes $1.4 billion supposedly within the concession area. He noted that the town of Yekepa remains in ruins, with dilapidated roads, unstable employment, and minimal training for Liberians to replace expatriate staff.
Twayen further revealed that AML admitted it had failed to appoint a Liberian to one of its top three executive positions, a requirement since 2008, and had not constructed a single hospital or clinic in the concession area despite MDA obligations. “Those facilities do not exist,” he said. “Not even in the hospital they claim to have renovated.”
Additionally, the senator criticized AML’s refusal to comply with the Bureau of Concessions and its failure to obtain construction approval from the Ministry of Public Works for its processing plant. “AML has not been audited, and they’ve been operating with blatant disregard for our institutions,” Twayen said.
Calling AML’s actions “a betrayal of trust,” Senator Twayen warned that the company’s push to implement its Phase 2 investment plan, so close to the expiration of its contract in 2030, is an attempt to pressure the government into extending its agreement. “This is a tactic to tie the hands of Liberia and force the passage of a new deal,” he said. “But I say today, on the record, that we have exposed these facts, and Liberia must not be coerced.”
