Liberia, Ivanhoe Atlantic Ink $1.8B Railway Deal to Export Guinea Iron Ore via Revamped Corridor
The Government of Liberia has signed a $1.8 billion infrastructure agreement with U.S.-based Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc., enabling the mining company to rehabilitate and utilize Liberia’s railway network for transporting iron ore from neighboring Guinea to export markets.
The U.S. Embassy in Liberia described the deal as “a crucial step” in advancing President Joseph Boakai’s agenda to implement a multi-user rail policy and attract foreign direct investment.
“This agreement supports President Boakai’s vision of opening Liberia’s railway corridor to multiple users under an independent operator,” the embassy said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.
Currently, Liberia’s cross-border railway infrastructure is primarily controlled by ArcelorMittal Liberia, whose mineral development agreement is set to expire in 2030.
The new deal lays the groundwork for a liberalized rail system once that contract ends, allowing multiple companies to transport minerals through the Guinea-Liberia corridor.
The agreement was signed ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s five-state African summit, held in Washington from July 9 to 11, aimed at strengthening American economic ties with African nations.
Ivanhoe Atlantic has not yet commented publicly on the deal. However, access to Liberia’s railway system is a critical component of the company’s strategy to develop and export iron ore from its Kon Kweni project in Guinea.
According to available information, the shovel-ready project is expected to produce between 2 million and 5 million metric tons of iron ore annually during its initial phase.
Production could ramp up to 30 million tons per year in the second phase, making rail access essential for competitive and efficient export logistics.
The railway agreement is expected to accelerate regional integration, improve infrastructure utilization, and unlock significant mining potential in both Guinea and Liberia.
