A Nimba businessman, Mr. D. Adonis Menlor, has expressed some reservations over the third amendment to ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Mineral Development Agreement, which is still under review by the Boakai Administration.
In a press conference held recently upon the inauguration of AML’s billion-dollar iron ore concentration plant in Yekepa by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Menlor said, if the government will consider signing the new MDA, an opportunity should be enshrined for AML to prioritize local businesses, especially those in Nimba.
He said the iron ore concessionaire has failed to prioritize local business owners or vendors in most of its contractual activities, which include supply of lubricants, water, side brushing of railroad, as well as reconstruction of buildings within the concessional areas, among others.
Menlor, a well-known petroleum dealer in Nimba told reporters that he and others are worried about the signing of the new MDA, because the first MDA did not have any clause that could compel AML to prioritize local business owners in the awarding of contracts in most of their basic services.
“My entity is able to supply AML with any quantity of petroleum products that they want and, besides me, we have other capable people in Nimba that can even supply water, cement as well as food items,” he said.
Since the inauguration of the iron ore concentrator, anxiety grew among the citizens over the renewal of MDA and the subsequent extension of the company’s operations, which many Nimbaians, especially those in the affected communities, are against.
Many Nimba citizens, including some senior local officials have expressed their reservations over the extension of the MDA, citing the failure of the company to comply with the first MDA.
On his Facebook page, Senator Nyan Twayen said, “You could dedicate another $1bn plant, if the conditions laid down by the Nimba Caucus are not met we will resist renewal.”
“What shall it profit Nimba to have a billion-dollar property built by AML in a filthy Yekepa that you have refused to renovate with a very bad road leading to said billion-dollar property,” he said. “Look at the muddy road leading to and around the so-called billion-dollar installation. Shame, AML will have to yield to the peoples’ demands or leave, simple,” he alarms.
Another lawmaker, Rep. Nyahn G. Flomo, noted that despite AML building a billion-dollar plant, the government stands a better chance to negotiate, because AML will be forced to comply due to the investment.
President Boakai and other senior government officials, including Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung; Speaker Richard Koon, Senate Pro-Tem Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence and a number of cabinet officials, along with ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman Lakshmi Mittal, kicked started the billion-dollar iron ore concentrator in Yekepa.
The inauguration was however marred by a protest from aggrieved youth, who feel that the company has not done enough for youth development and the affected communities.
Meanwhile, Mr. D. Adonis Menlor is calling on the government to include opportunities for local businesses in the new MDA, if the government considers signing it.
“We are employers too, if the company gives us a contract, hundreds of Liberians will be employed and become breadwinners for their family,” he said.
