ArcelorMittal Extends Mining Agreement in Liberia Until 2050
The Liberian government and ArcelorMittal have signed an amendment to their existing mining development agreement, ratified by the Liberian parliament on January 29, 2026. This amendment extends the duration of the agreement until 2050, with an option to renew for an additional 25 years.
Details of the Extended Agreement
The agreement concerns the extension of the existing Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) between the government of the Republic of Liberia and ArcelorMittal. It covers the mining rights for iron ore extraction in Liberia and includes provisions related to the reserved access to railway infrastructure that the company is developing. The agreement was ratified through the Liberian legislative process on January 29, 2026.
Financial Terms and Duration
ArcelorMittal will pay $200 million to the Liberian government in exchange for the rights acquired through this agreement, including the extension of mining rights and reserved access to the railway capacity that the company is developing. The agreement extends the duration until 2050, with an option to renew for an additional 25 years. The release does not specify any official signing date other than the legislative ratification on January 29, 2026.
Recent Developments and Future Projections
This amendment follows the recent inauguration of ArcelorMittal's iron ore concentration plant at Tokadeh, in Nimba County. The agreement is part of a $1.8 billion expansion project, bringing ArcelorMittal's total investment in Liberia to $3.5 billion. Iron ore shipments are expected to increase from about 5 million tons per year to 20 million tons in 2026. The agreement includes a multi-user arrangement regarding the use of railway infrastructure, with reserved railway capacity potentially reaching 30 million tons annually if ongoing feasibility studies lead to a decision to expand beyond 20 million tons.
