Pioneering the Nation’s First-Ever High-Grade Ore Concentrate Production.
Yekepa, Nimba County – ArcelorMittal Liberia officially inducted 236 young Liberians into full-time employment, positioning them to lead operations at the company’s state-of-the-art iron ore concentrator. For the first time ever, Liberia will manufacture high-grade iron ore concentrate on its own land, signaling the start of a new era in the nation’s mining industry.
Included in the newly hired cohort are 108 Process Operator Learners (POL) and 128 graduates of the ArcelorMittal Liberia Training Academy (AMLTA), who have all completed rigorous technical and vocational training. Their transition from trainees to operators represents a monumental step forward in the localization of Liberia’s mining workforce and the execution of ArcelorMittal’s multi-billion-dollar Phase II Expansion Project.
The graduation and induction ceremony, which took place in Yekepa, was a powerful celebration of perseverance, change, and potential. The event was made even more momentous by the surprise attendance of Mr. Kleber Silva, ArcelorMittal’s Global Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for Mining, who flew in from company headquarters to personally congratulate the new employees.
“This is more than just a job. The road to change your lives, change this business, and change this nation is just getting started. You are now involved in a mining operation that is globally renowned and part of something larger,” Silva said to the crowd.
As evidence that Liberia has “some of the best talents in the world,” Silva praised the recruiters from and urged them to continue being modest, focused, and cautious in their new responsibilities.
“Mining is not just about extracting ore. It’s about building nations. It’s about dignity of labor. It’s about service. And what you’ve learned here discipline, teamwork, excellence will not only make you better workers, it will make you better citizens,” he said, drawing sustained applause from the crowd.
For many of the recently hired staff, this is a momentous occasion that will change their lives. Originally from rural areas where they frequently had little access to school or employment, they now choose professions that provide upward mobility, ongoing education, and financial security. Their employment has a positive socioeconomic influence on homes, communities, and the national economy, providing optimism amidst Liberia’s ongoing young unemployment problem.
Anthony Kochen, Chief Operating Officer of ArcelorMittal Liberia, also spoke at the ceremony and commended the graduates’ preparedness and discipline.
“I see more than just employees when I look around this room; I see the future of our operations and the future of this nation. You are prepared and trained,” Kochen remarked.
Kochen shared enthusiastic feedback from AML teams already working with some of the new hires in the field, especially in the early stages of the concentrator’s construction. “You’re demonstrating that Liberians can perform well in any setting,” he said.
Among the first frontline employees ready to run the iron ore concentrator, the focal point of AML’s value-addition plan, are the 236 recently hired Liberians. This enormous infrastructure project will change the way iron ore is processed from raw exports to high-grade concentrate, which will keep more value in Liberia and build a more robust and contemporary mining sector.
Chief Executive Officer Michiel Veandermerwe of ArcelorMittal Liberia described the occasion as extremely noteworthy for the industry as a whole as well as for Liberia. He praised the AMLTA leadership and staff for their efforts in producing such impactful outcomes.
“It’s very rare that you find this kind of investment in the industry. It gives me a warm feeling in my heart when I see our people appreciate this so much. Well done, ladies and gents. This is only the beginning,” he noted.
Liberia is poised to become a regional leader in sophisticated mineral processing as the Phase II Expansion gets underway. In addition to demonstrating AML’s dedication to national development, the hiring and empowering of a new generation of Liberians to spearhead this process is a potent illustration of how foreign direct investment, when in line with national objectives, can strengthen local capability and create shared prosperity.
This moment is more than just a professional achievement for the graduates, their families, and their communities; it is a daring declaration that Liberia’s young people are prepared to take the lead in creating a future driven by opportunity, creativity, and skills.
