The refurbishment, rooted in ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Phase II operations, is intended to restore the company to its full design speed.
Monrovia – In a significant move to expand its operations, leading steel giant, ArcelorMittal, has embarked on the rehabilitation and expansion of its railway to Buchanan Port in Grand Bassa County.
The ongoing development, according to the company, is focused on expanding its rail capacity to approximately 30 mtpa, rehabilitating all nine sidings, replacing all timber sleepers with steel sleepers and procuring 500 additional wagons and nine new locomotives.
The refurbishment, rooted in ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Phase II operations, is intended to restore the company to its full design speed.
The company has produced 600,000 units of sleeper bars to replace timbers it initially installed on the track. Meanwhile, installation of the sleeper bars has been ongoing since mid-last year, with completion expected by the third quarter of 2024, the company said.
“Currently, the refurbished railway is dedicated solely to freight, primarily transporting iron ore from the mines to the port. There are ongoing discussions and assessments to explore the potential for passenger services; however, as of now, the railway remains focused on supporting mining operations. In addition to railway refurbishment, the project includes significant port upgrades, such as constructing a new multipurpose quay, rehabilitating the existing berth, and implementing other infrastructure enhancements designed to streamline the export process.”
Additionally, the construction of a new material handling terminal at the ArcelorMittal Liberia Buchanan Port is well underway, along with the development of a rail car dumper, stacker, reclaimers, and a ship loader capable of handling up to 10,000 tonnes per hour.
As part of these upgrades, two rail loops are under construction in the port and at the mine to make loading and offloading faster, safer and more productive and efficient. Alongside these investments is the implementation of state-of-the-art track inspection technology to improve safety.
According to the steel company, other critical infrastructure under construction includes a dynamic loader for in-movement loading at the mine and the construction of two power plants ─ a seventy-eight-megawatt plant at the mine and a twenty-one-megawatt plant in Buchanan.
“Looking ahead, the success of ArcelorMittal’s railway project not only enhances Liberia’s mining capabilities but also paves the way for broader economic development in the region. The company’s investments and continued operations signal a positive outlook for Liberia’s iron ore industry and position the country as a growing player in the global market. The ongoing expansion aligns with a vision of integrated development, where improved logistics and infrastructure can attract further investments and foster economic growth across West Africa.”
It can be recalled that in early July this year, Africa Global Logistics successfully handled customs clearance and offloading for three locomotives transported from Houston, USA, upon arrival at Buchanan Port in Liberia. The railway operations are now fully functional for ArcelorMittal’s Yekepa Mine, with main transport managed directly by ArcelorMittal’s charter division.
