Yekepa, Nimba County, May 22, 2026 – A joint delegation from the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), World Bank, and KRL International visited ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Yekepa concession on May 13 for a two-day assessment in a move to address Liberia’s persistent energy challenges.
The mission aimed to examine the company’s operations, evaluate obstacles to industrial growth caused by energy shortages, and explore ways to attract public-private investment to strengthen a regional energy grid.
The delegation toured ArcelorMittal Liberia’s modern Concentrator Plant in Tokadeh, observing how low-grade iron ore is transformed into export-ready concentrate. Guided through the plant’s upper levels, the visitors witnessed first-hand the operations driving Liberia’s mining sector.
Members of the delegation included Ms. K. Riva Levinson, Chief Executive Officer of KRL International; Mr. Gyude Moore, Senior Consultant, Millennium Challenge Corporation; Mr. Alieu Nyei, Head of MCC Compact Liberia; Mr. Pravin Karki, Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank; Ms. Karishma Pelham-Raad, World Bank Liberia; and Ms. Hannah Ryder, Chief Executive Officer of Development Reimagined Consultancy.
US delegation members on a tour at AML iron ore concentrator plant
Delegation members said the visit sought to pinpoint barriers to Liberia’s economic growth, especially the high cost and limited availability of electricity, and consider intervention strategies through MCC Compact and World Bank support.
Earlier this year, Liberia advanced in the MCC scorecard, meeting 12 out of 22 indicators and putting the country in line for US government grants to improve energy infrastructure.
MCC Senior Consultant Gyude Moore highlighted that industrial giants like ArcelorMittal Liberia are major energy consumers, underscoring the urgent national need for more affordable and reliable power.
“Power shortages remain one of Liberia’s biggest barriers to economic growth. The MCC Compact is designed to help close this gap by supporting investments that lower energy costs and expand access, Mr. Moore said.
KRL International CEO K. Riva Levinson said Liberia’s renewed eligibility for compact support reflects growing US confidence in the country’s governance reforms.
For the World Bank, Mr. Pravin Karki highlighted ongoing efforts to support Liberia’s energy sector, including considerations around debt restructuring, provision of an additional turbine to complement existing infrastructure at Mount Coffee, and support for solar energy development to strengthen dry-season power supply when hydroelectric capacity declines.
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Anthony Kocken, made a presentation on the company’s operational progress and energy needs. He disclosed that AML currently operates a 75-megawatt power system at Tokadeh to support concentrator operations, alongside substations in Yekepa and Buchanan. He noted that the company supplements its energy needs with diesel-powered generators and supply from Jungle Energy Power.
Mr. Kocken also highlighted major progress made under the company’s Phase II expansion, including significant investments in rail and port modernization. He reported that Buchanan Port is undergoing expansion with new equipment installations, while the railway has seen the replacement of wooden sleepers with steel sleepers to improve durability and efficiency.
On community development, Mr. Kocken underscored ArcelorMittal Liberia’s continued contributions to healthcare, education, vocational training, road infrastructure, and sanitation in affected communities.
He pointed to the pavement of the Ganta–Sanniquellie road as a landmark infrastructure achievement and noted the company’s continued maintenance of the Yekepa road corridor and interventions on community roads.
On workforce development, Kocken said the company has spent about US$14 million on vocational training. So far, 163 Liberian technicians have graduated, 138 are currently enrolled, and 122 are working on the Concentrator Phase II Project.
Ninety-nine Liberians have also benefited from ArcelorMittal’s MDA Scholarship for advanced studies abroad in technical and professional fields.
The visit, officials said, reaffirmed ArcelorMittal Liberia’s pivotal role in national development and underscored the need for sustainable energy solutions to drive growth across the country.
