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Spotlight | Liberia
Miners and Washington worried about George Weah's procrastination

Liberia's President George Weah in Paris, 12 November 2019. © Ludovic Marin/AFP/Pool

Liberian President George Weah still hasn't made a decision regarding renegotiation of ArcelorMittal's railway monopoly, even though a report on the issue was submitted a month ago. That delay is causing concern for mining operators, and Washington. As for mining mogul Robert Friedland, he is preparing to withdraw from Liberia and Guinea. [...]

Published on 25/04/2023 at 05:40 GMT Reading time 5 minutes Joan Tilouine

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Mining

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ArcelorMittal Liberia
Archibald Bernard
Dan Bronstein
Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemaya Sr
Emanuel L. Shaw II
George Weah
High Power Exploration
Jefferson Koijee
Jindal Steel & Power
Lakshmi Mittal
Mamadi Doumbouya
Michael McCarthy
National Railway Authority
Naveen Jindal
R.L. Banks & Associates
Railroad Development Corporation
Robert Friedland
Samuel D. Tweah Jr
Societe des Mines de Fer de Guinee
Solway Investment Group
Solway Mining
William J. Burns

Liberia
Boakai administration brokers iron ore deal between Solway and Arcelor

The Swiss mining and metals group is ready to pull out of Liberia by accepting a deal over its iron ore deposit there, which was reallocated to ArcelorMittal. The transfer occurred during George Weah's presidency and exposed his successor to potentially fraught arbitration.

Subscribers only Mining 24.05.2024

Inner circles | Liberia
Boakai draws on Sirleaf-era talent to form government

The new Liberian leader is surrounding himself by colleagues he previously worked with as vice president. He is also having to deal with the influence of former warlord Prince Johnson, who is causing tension within the presidential party.

Subscribers only Mining, Politics, Diplomacy 26.01.2024

Joseph Boakai at his inauguration on 24 January 2024.

Liberia
Washington keeps up pressure on George Weah

The outgoing Liberian president has seen some pillars of his political system sanctioned by the United States. His successor, Joseph Boakai, has made the fight against corruption a priority, with the support of Washington, which wants top officials of the former government removed before his January inauguration.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 18.12.2023

Liberia President George Weah in Egypt on 8 November 2022.

Liberia
Robert Friedland seeks to schmooze president-elect Boakai

Robert Friedland is due to meet Liberia's new president in the next few weeks in the United States. The mining tycoon, reassured by the change of government, has made new acquisitions and hopes to gain access to the railway linking the Nimba mining area to the port of Buchanan.

Subscribers only Mining 11.12.2023

Liberia
George Weah launches investigation into mining contracts before handing over to Joseph Boakai

Outgoing Liberian President George Weah has criticised his government and some advisers for duping him in order to benefit from the mining industry's largesse. Before the new head of state takes over, he is trying to shed light on the highly sensitive case of ArcelorMittal, Solway Mining and HPX.

Subscribers only Mining, Politics 29.11.2023

Liberia's President George Weah arrives to address the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City on 20 September 2023.

Liberia
Weah faces arbitration threat from Solway over ArcelorMittal deal

Solway Investment Group has told the Liberian president to either provide compensation after a secret deal that handed its iron ore mining licence to ArcelorMittal, or face arbitration that could cost the state $2bn.

Subscribers only Mining 18.10.2023

Liberia
Details of Liberia's secret deal with ArcelorMittal revealed

Africa Intelligence has gained access to the confidential deal which gives the global steel giant a virtual monopoly on iron ore in Liberia at the expense of Solway Mining.

Subscribers only Mining 06.10.2023

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
George Weah irks Washington and Robert Friedland with mine transfers to ArcelorMittal

Liberia has withdrawn licences from mining firms without informing them. Solway Mining, which was about to launch its iron ore project, has lost its asset to ArcelorMittal, which is strengthening its grip on iron ore production and its rail line monopoly to the detriment of Robert Friedland's US company HPX.

Subscribers only Mining 29.09.2023

Liberian President George Weah at UN headquarters in New York on 20 September 2023.

Liberia
Anti-George Weah lobbying gathers steam in Washington

Liberia's opposition Unity Party is mobilising its US networks in the runup to next month's general elections. The party has set up a branch in Philadelphia to boost fundraising.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 13.09.2023

Outgoing Liberian Vice President Joseph Boakai in Monrovia on 29 December 2017.

Botswana
Gaborone hopes to rescue coal industry with Minergy and Jindal

The Botswanan state hopes to limit the impact of international investors' reluctance to invest in coal by taking control of the Masama mine and strengthening its partnership with Indian group Jindal.

Subscribers only Mining 29.08.2023

Guinea
Friedland executives and lobbyists battle Jindal over Nimba project

Magnate Robert Friedland's representatives in Conakry sent letters to Guinean junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya and Jindal's management, declining to sell their Nimba iron ore deposit to the Indian group, although the mining project is struggling.

Subscribers only Mining 29.05.2023

Liberia
US Department of State attempts to mediate between ArcelorMittal and HPX

The management of the rail link between Liberian mining sites and the port of Buchanan is still the subject of intense negotiations. To try to find a solution to this logistical and commercial disagreement, the State Department brought together in Washington executives from ArcelorMittal and the American company High Power Exploration.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 16.05.2023

Guinea
Robert Friedland reorganises his Nimba project ahead of possible sale to Jindal

American-Canadian mining magnate Robert Friedland no longer believes that he can complete the Nimba iron ore mining project being carried out by his High Power Exploration (HPX) group and its local subsidiary, Société des Mines de Fer de Guinée.

Subscribers only Mining 10.05.2023

Guinea
Doumbouya plans to reallocate Zogota iron to Indian tycoon Jindal

To supply his steel mills, India's Naveen Jindal has set his sights on the Zogota deposit in Guinea, whose licence quietly fell back into state hands last year. The junta leader is backing the plan, and Niron Metals, the site's official owner, has given up all hope of developing the project.

Subscribers only Mining 21.04.2023

The head of the ruling junta in Guinea, Mamadi Doumbouya.

Liberia
George Weah refines his new mining strategy

The Liberian president has asked his ministers and advisers to renegotiate terms and conditions with mining operators who are suspected of not paying their fair dues to the state. At the same time, the government is considering setting up a state-owned mining company.

Free access Mining 31.10.2022

In Focus | West Africa
Where next for mining's wild child, Robert Friedland?

From Singapore to Monrovia, via New York and Conakry, the American-Canadian tycoon Robert Friedland is one of the global mining sector's most flamboyant figures. Well established in the DR Congo, he is working behind the scenes in Conakry and Monrovia to expand his empire in West Africa.

Subscribers only Mining 24.10.2022

Ivanhoe Mines founder Robert Friedland at a conference in Cape Town in 2022.

Spotlight | Liberia
George Weah takes on Mittal over the future of the country's iron mines, railways

Liberia's president wants to restore his country's balance of power with the global steel giant ArcelorMittal. Mining magnate Robert Friedland is throwing his support behind George Weah with an ambitious project that would let his own iron be exported through the state from Guinea.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining, Politics, Business 29.06.2022

Set up email notifications for these topics

ArcelorMittal Liberia
Archibald Bernard
Dan Bronstein
Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemaya Sr
Emanuel L. Shaw II
George Weah
High Power Exploration
Jefferson Koijee
Jindal Steel & Power
Lakshmi Mittal
Mamadi Doumbouya
Michael McCarthy
National Railway Authority
Naveen Jindal
R.L. Banks & Associates
Railroad Development Corporation
Robert Friedland
Samuel D. Tweah Jr
Societe des Mines de Fer de Guinee
Solway Investment Group
Solway Mining
William J. Burns

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Spotlight | Liberia
Miners and Washington worried about George Weah's procrastination

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Liberia
Boakai administration brokers iron ore deal between Solway and Arcelor

Inner circles | Liberia
Boakai draws on Sirleaf-era talent to form government

Liberia
Washington keeps up pressure on George Weah

Liberia
Robert Friedland seeks to schmooze president-elect Boakai

Liberia
George Weah launches investigation into mining contracts before handing over to Joseph Boakai

Liberia
Weah faces arbitration threat from Solway over ArcelorMittal deal

Liberia
Details of Liberia's secret deal with ArcelorMittal revealed

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
George Weah irks Washington and Robert Friedland with mine transfers to ArcelorMittal

Liberia
Anti-George Weah lobbying gathers steam in Washington

Botswana
Gaborone hopes to rescue coal industry with Minergy and Jindal

Guinea
Friedland executives and lobbyists battle Jindal over Nimba project

Liberia
US Department of State attempts to mediate between ArcelorMittal and HPX

Guinea
Robert Friedland reorganises his Nimba project ahead of possible sale to Jindal

Guinea
Doumbouya plans to reallocate Zogota iron to Indian tycoon Jindal

Liberia
George Weah refines his new mining strategy

In Focus | West Africa
Where next for mining's wild child, Robert Friedland?

Spotlight | Liberia
George Weah takes on Mittal over the future of the country's iron mines, railways

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Spotlight | Liberia Miners and Washington worried about George Weah's procrastination

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Liberia Boakai administration brokers iron ore deal between Solway and Arcelor

Inner circles | Liberia Boakai draws on Sirleaf-era talent to form government

Liberia Washington keeps up pressure on George Weah

Liberia Robert Friedland seeks to schmooze president-elect Boakai

Liberia George Weah launches investigation into mining contracts before handing over to Joseph Boakai

Liberia Weah faces arbitration threat from Solway over ArcelorMittal deal

Liberia Details of Liberia's secret deal with ArcelorMittal revealed

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia George Weah irks Washington and Robert Friedland with mine transfers to ArcelorMittal

Liberia Anti-George Weah lobbying gathers steam in Washington

Botswana Gaborone hopes to rescue coal industry with Minergy and Jindal

Guinea Friedland executives and lobbyists battle Jindal over Nimba project

Liberia US Department of State attempts to mediate between ArcelorMittal and HPX

Guinea Robert Friedland reorganises his Nimba project ahead of possible sale to Jindal

Guinea Doumbouya plans to reallocate Zogota iron to Indian tycoon Jindal

Liberia George Weah refines his new mining strategy

In Focus | West Africa Where next for mining's wild child, Robert Friedland?

Spotlight | Liberia George Weah takes on Mittal over the future of the country's iron mines, railways

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo
The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

Spotlight | Liberia
Miners and Washington worried about George Weah's procrastination

Liberia
Boakai administration brokers iron ore deal between Solway and Arcelor

Inner circles | Liberia
Boakai draws on Sirleaf-era talent to form government

Liberia
Washington keeps up pressure on George Weah

Liberia
Robert Friedland seeks to schmooze president-elect Boakai

Liberia
George Weah launches investigation into mining contracts before handing over to Joseph Boakai

Liberia
Weah faces arbitration threat from Solway over ArcelorMittal deal

Liberia
Details of Liberia's secret deal with ArcelorMittal revealed

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
George Weah irks Washington and Robert Friedland with mine transfers to ArcelorMittal

Liberia
Anti-George Weah lobbying gathers steam in Washington

Botswana
Gaborone hopes to rescue coal industry with Minergy and Jindal

Guinea
Friedland executives and lobbyists battle Jindal over Nimba project

Liberia
US Department of State attempts to mediate between ArcelorMittal and HPX

Guinea
Robert Friedland reorganises his Nimba project ahead of possible sale to Jindal

Guinea
Doumbouya plans to reallocate Zogota iron to Indian tycoon Jindal

Liberia
George Weah refines his new mining strategy

In Focus | West Africa
Where next for mining's wild child, Robert Friedland?

Spotlight | Liberia
George Weah takes on Mittal over the future of the country's iron mines, railways