Monrovia — It has been 20 years since iron ore was last produced and shipped from Liberia's shores. Known as one of the world's leading iron ore producers, Liberia left the scene in 1991 as a result of the civil war. The Country's largest concession then belonged to the Liberia American – Swedish Minerals Company (LAMCO) in Yekepa, Nimba County. Once LAMCO shut down its operations, coupled with Yekepa's destruction during the war, years of neglect, and a dwindling population, the city experienced a drastic downturn.
In 2005, the world's leading steel and mining company ArcelorMittal, through the vision of its CEO, Lakshmi Mittal, approached the Liberian government and secured the rights to mine the former LAMCO concession. Six years, and millions of manpower hours later, to put it into perspective, ArcelorMittal is ready to commence its iron ore mining, returning Liberia to the iron ore playing field.
In preparation of the mining activity, ArcelorMittal launched the most comprehensive environmental studies ever undertaken in Liberia of the Nimba mountain range. This is home to Liberia's biggest iron ore deposits, and it is also one of West Africa's few remaining wet-zone upland forests. This unique ecosystem means the mountains are effectively biological islands, home to many rare species.
Protecting biodiversity is crucial to ArcelorMittal's plan for Liberia. ArcelorMittal partnered with a number of international conservation groups to explore how the company can help reverse the recent history of environmental damage in Nimba. As a result, ArcelorMittal found several new species and confirmed that the Nimba mountains are home to animals that live nowhere else but in this part of Liberia. The studies also confirmed the area's remarkable biodiversity; the forests are home to nearly 400 species of birds and 750 different kinds of butterflies and moths.
We look at what this means to the environment in a one on one interview with Mr. John Howell, ArcelorMittal's Environmental Manager.
What is your background and how did you come to Liberia?
Howell: I am a 50-year old soil scientist from Devon in South West England. After I qualified, I spent nearly 25 years working on development projects in Nepal among countries, mainly in South and South East Asia. I specialized in low-cost slope stabilization and rural road construction, as well as forest soils and other environmental work.
My adventure in Liberia started almost by accident. The environmental consultancy supplier I was working for at the time sent me here in early 2008 to do a short and specific task. Later ArcelorMittal took me on to co-ordinate the whole environmental compliance process.
It was a big challenge for me to get to grips with so many different issues and to find practical solutions. I enjoyed the professional interest of this, and it looks as if it might become a complete change of career.
Tell us a bit more about life in Yekepa?
Howell: Yekepa is idyllic in many ways. It is a peaceful place surrounded by hills that are covered with secondary rain forest. The town was well laid out when it was built as a mining camp in the 1960s. When I first arrived, it was quiet and still largely overgrown and ruined after the massive destruction caused during the Liberian civil war. Much has been rebuilt now and many more people have come in, both expatriate workers and local people seeking work.
Today, it has a bustle to it which is positive, though I always prefer places to be not.
We resisted the push to erect security fences and encouraged a neighborly social culture, and that has helped to give Yekepa a relaxed and friendly feel.
Some of the most accessible seams of iron ore are in the Nimba mountain range. What makes this region so special?
Howell: The Nimba Mountains are the highest in all of West Africa to the west of Mount Cameroon. This means that they have a different climate from the surrounding land, being cooler and more humid because of their height. These conditions have led to the formation of very special types of forest, home to interesting plants and animals. As human activity has caused the destruction of large areas of the West African rainforest, these areas have become extra special.
Can you tell us a bit more about the different species that can be found in the region?
Howell: I can tell you a huge amount! There is nothing very big in these forests, though there are still communities of chimpanzees near the mine sites and evidence of the occasional leopard. But there is a myriad of smaller things, for example we have identified over 750 species of butterflies and moths. There are several new species that have been identified too, including a fish, a frog and a dragonfly. We have also confirmed the presence of some intriguing endemics: that is, species found only here and nowhere else. One of these is a toad that lives on the high grasslands and gives birth to live young. Another is a small shrew-like creature that lives on freshwater crabs along the mountain streams.
What are the main environmental challenges related to mining activities in Liberia?
Howell: We cannot pretend that the steel that is so vital to a good, modern human environment can be produced without any consequences on the environment. But much of the harm can be avoided or repaired. And what cannot be avoided or repaired – such as extracting resources from the ground - can be compensated for.
So it is important that we work carefully and avoid net environmental damage. That is why the company employs environmental staff and supports environmental programs.
Talking about environmental programs, what are the most recent environmental initiatives launched by ArcelorMittal to protect Nimba and its surroundings?
Howell: We have just started a Biodiversity Conservation Program to compensate for environmental damage that we cannot avoid. This is being done in close consultation with the government agencies, communities and international biodiversity conservation NGOs. It is an exciting opportunity as it gives us the chance to reverse the decline of the forests and to have a lasting impact both on rural people's livelihoods and on rainforest biodiversity.
We are also completing the design of a conservation program for marine turtles that nest close to our port at Buchanan. 2 of the 3 species found there are listed as critically endangered – so not far from extinction.
Is ArcelorMittal a pioneer with its environmental projects in Liberia?
Howell: Other companies are doing similar things elsewhere, but we are the first to be working on a big project in this part of West Africa since the end of the various conflicts. We have looked hard and long at the local needs for environmental protection and have designed our approaches very specifically for the needs of Liberia rather than applying systems developed for other places. This has meant developing new approaches to solve particular problems. We have also been the first to apply the new Liberian legislation on environmental protection, and we have tried hard to set a good example. Why? Because we want to show that we can lead the way and set a high standard that will benefit Liberia for generations to come.
About ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal is the world's leading integrated steel and mining company, with presence in more than 60 countries. ArcelorMittal is the leader in all major global steel markets, including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with leading R&D and technology, as well as sizeable captive supplies of raw materials and outstanding distribution networks. With an industrial presence in over 20 countries spanning four continents, the Company covers all of the key steel markets, from emerging to mature.
Through its core values of sustainability, quality and leadership, ArcelorMittal commits to operating in a responsible way with respect to the health, safety and well-being of its employees, contractors and the communities in which it operates. It is also committed to the sustainable management of the environment. It takes a leading role in the industry's efforts to develop breakthrough steelmaking technologies and is actively researching and developing steel-based technologies and solutions that contribute to combat climate change.
In 2010, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $78.0 billion and crude steel production of 90.6 million tonnes, representing approximately 6 per cent of world steel output.
ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Brussels (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).
For more information about ArcelorMittal visit: www.arcelormittal.com.
Contact information: Lynn Robbroeckx,
Corporate Communications: +44 78 23530880
Hesta Baker Pearson: + 231 880400990
