MONROVIA, Liberia – The Liberian Senate has taken steps to scrutinize the implementation of the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) between the Government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal Liberia, following a formal request by Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen, Jr. seeking a comprehensive update on the concessionaire’s commitments.
The Senate Plenary has mandated its Joint Committee on Concessions and Land, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment to review the request and report back within two weeks.
Senator Twayen's communication, dated June 10, 2026, called on the Senate to invite the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) and the National Investment Commission (NIC)/Bureau of Concessions to provide a detailed briefing on the status of the recently ratified ArcelorMittal-Government of Liberia Mineral Development Agreement and the extent of its implementation.
According to the Nimba County lawmaker, the request is driven by the Senate’s constitutional oversight responsibility and growing public interest in whether key commitments made by ArcelorMittal are being fulfilled.
Central to his concerns is the company's obligation to develop and submit a comprehensive Social Infrastructure Development Plan for concession-affected counties, including Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa, within three months of the agreement’s ratification.
Senator Twayen emphasized that it is important for the Senate and the public to understand whether this requirement has been met and, if so, to receive details on the plan’s scope, financing arrangements, implementation schedule, and expected benefits for local communities.
The senator is also seeking updates on several major development commitments outlined in the agreement, including the construction, rehabilitation, and renovation of housing units in Yekepa, improvements to schools and educational facilities across concession-affected counties, and the construction, rehabilitation, and equipping of health facilities within the concession area.
Additionally, he wants clarity on the status of other social development projects promised under the agreement, as well as the overall compliance framework, monitoring mechanisms, and implementation timelines for obligations that were intended to take effect immediately or retroactively upon ratification.
The Senate's decision to refer the matter to its joint committee signals heightened legislative interest in ensuring that commitments contained in one of Liberia’s most significant mining agreements translate into tangible benefits for affected communities.
The committee is expected to conduct its review and present findings and recommendations to the Senate Plenary within the next two weeks.
