By Nyan Flomo, Jr. |National correspondent Nimba
Calm has returned to Arcelor Mittal Liberia concession following temporarily shut down of the Company’s operations in Yekepa, Nimba County during a protest by indigenous communities.
Mask traditional dancers other wise called Country were used in the protest to block the main road to the Company.
According to Liberia Public Radio National correspondent in Ganta, the Mask Dancers want the company improve the living conditions of residents of the county, particularly concession affected communities in line with a 2005 amended Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) signed between it and the government of Liberia.
Under its Economic Benefits component of the MDA, Arcelor Mittal is obligated to create more than 2000 jobs for Liberians with emphasis on the people of Nina County.
As enshrined in the MDA, employees will receive advanced training in the fields of mining production and operation optimization, plant maintenance, planning and execution, plant electrical operation systems, and electrical maintenance. Other training areas include plant fitting and heavy-duty mobile equipment maintenance, as well as mine production and operations.
However following few days of negotiations initiates by county officials, the country devil agreed to remove the blockage on the main train track, use to transport iron ore to. Port City of Buchanan in Grand Bassa.
The blockade began on October 16, and caused the company to stop transporting, Winston Daryoue, the company’s communication director told Front Page Africa.
Daryoue said the company reaffirms its commitment to community engagement on issues around its operations as a means of finding a common ground.
The country’s protest comes only three weeks after the Government of Liberia and Arcelor Mittal signed a landmark amendment to the company’s Mineral Development Agreement (‘MDA’) which paves the way to triple its mining and logistics operations in Liberia to export 15 million tons of concentrate annually.
The additional capital required to complete the project is expected to be approximately $ 800 million.
Arcelor Mittal Liberia said it is concerned about the worrying precedent being set by some of the lawmakers during their visit.
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