Nimba Is Bleeding While ArcelorMittal Gets Rich!” Senator Twayan Explodes on ArcelorMittal

Capitol Hill, Liberia: Nimba County Senator Nyan Twayan has unleashed a searing critique against ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), accusing the global steel giant of gross violations of its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) and deliberate neglect of the people of Nimba for nearly two decades.

With the current MDA set to expire in 2030, Senator Twayan declared that any talk of renewal is off the table unless radical changes are made starting with AML’s blatant disregard for the Liberian people, the law, and its own contractual promises.

“We must not be swayed by ‘billion-dollar infrastructure’ headlines meant solely to benefit ore exports, while our people remain impoverished and forgotten,” Twayan blasted in his statement.

Looting the Land, Leaving the People in Ruins

According to the senator, AML has utterly failed to uplift the lives of residents in its operational zones. Towns like Yekepa, once full of promise, now lie in shameful decay, with deplorable housing conditions, no basic amenities, and communities languishing in poverty while AML boasts of a $1.4 billion “expansion.”

But Twayan isn’t buying it.

“How can you invest billions in a mining plant but leave the roads to Yekepa in ruin? That’s not development; it’s exploitation,” he declared.

The so-called $1.4 billion plant? Nothing more than a temporary, prefab setup, he says easily dismantled, cheaply built, and designed only to enrich AML by cutting labor costs in Liberia compared to Europe. According to insiders, actual construction costs are closer to $550 million, raising suspicions of financial fraud and tax evasion.

Blatant Disrespect for Liberian Talent and Law

The senator called out AML’s long-running disregard for Article 10 of the 2007 Amended MDA, which requires that at least 50% of senior management roles be held by Liberians by 2017. Instead, AML’s top brass remains 100% foreign, including

        •       CEO: Michiel Vandermerwe (South African)

        •       COO: Anthony P. Kocken (Australian)

        •       CFO: Conor O’Brien (British)

“This is not just a breach of contract; it’s a slap in the face of every qualified Liberian professional,” Twayan said.

Liberians currently occupy only 8 of the 19 senior management roles, with foreign nationals holding positions such as chief information officer, procurement head, and even security risk advisor roles that Liberians are more than capable of handling.

Millions in Missing Scholarships: Where’s the Money?

AML was legally bound to pay $200,000 annually for advanced scholarships since 2007, a total of $3.6 million to date. But according to AML’s own admission in its 2022 report, payments only began in 2012, leaving a glaring five-year funding gap.

“Scholarship funding is not a favor. It is a legal obligation. Liberia must demand full restitution,” Senator Twayan insisted.

Transfer Pricing: A Dirty Corporate Game

Twayan also exposed AML’s alleged use of “transfer pricing” to hide profits and avoid paying dividends to the Liberian government. By underpricing exports and shifting profits overseas, AML is accused of robbing Liberia of its rightful share of wealth.

Final Demands: “No Renewal Without Real Change”

The senator issued a bold set of demands to the government of Liberia and AML:

        •       Mandatory paving of the Sanniquellie–Yekepa road

        •       Increase in the Social Development Fund

        •       Immediate halt to container housing; renovate existing homes

        •       Enforce Liberian inclusion in executive leadership

        •       Repay scholarship arrears and establish a transparent fund

        •       Quarterly audits of MDA compliance

        •       End transfer pricing and enforce full financial transparency

“To the people of Nimba and Liberia: We must not settle for less than we deserve,” he declared.

“This is not just about Nimba; it’s about national dignity, justice, and our future.”

As AML’s clock ticks toward 2030, the message from Senator Twayan is crystal clear: ArcelorMittal has lost its moral license to operate as things stand. And unless it begins to honor both the letter and the spirit of its agreement, it may find its welcome in Liberia officially revoked.