Ivanhoe Liberia Ltd. has published the Public Participation and Stakeholder Engagement chapter of its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), that was independently produced by Earthtime, one of Liberia’s leading environmental and social consulting firms. It documents extensive consultations with communities along the proposed rail corridor between Yekepa and Buchanan in Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa counties.
The release follows questions raised during recent public hearings on the Ivanhoe Atlantic access and concession agreement and comes as the ESIA remains under review by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the project permitting process.
ESIA reports are prepared to identify potential social and environmental impacts of large projects and to define mitigation and benefit-sharing measures.
The chapter sets out stakeholder mapping that distinguishes “affected parties”—residents within the project’s social area of influence—and “interested parties.” Stakeholder engagement activities comprising high-level consultations, community meetings and focus groups were held from March 17 to April 4, 2025, across the three counties.
Affected communities listed include Gbapa, Zolowee, Camp Four, Yekepa, Big Fanti Town, Small Fanti Town, Liagbala, Yila, Botota, Yapea, Rock Crusher Community, Peace Community, Green Hill Quarry and Zoweinta. The assessment notes that livelihoods, living conditions and vulnerabilities vary according to proximity to the proposed haul road, rail and port components.
Vulnerable groups identified in the affected areas include isolated elderly people, women-headed households, families with many children, persons with disabilities, single-parent families and other low-income groups.
Participants included youth groups, chiefs and elders, hunters, Zoes, artisanal miners, fishermen, transport unions, civil society organizations, town commissioners, paramount chiefs and community chairpersons.
According to the chapter, discussions focused on community concerns and expectations, grievance mechanisms, resource use, biodiversity, local governance and social structures.
Employment and training featured prominently among issues raised in high-level forums, alongside questions about the scope of infrastructure works, environmental and social impacts, compensation and benefit-sharing arrangements, and governance and equity.
Community-level consultations underscored employment as the top priority with strong interest in preferential hiring, training opportunities and concerns about livelihood risks. Other concerns included transport safety and demands for compensation for damage to crops or other losses.
Ivanhoe’s publication of the engagement chapter aims to demonstrate the breadth of consultations undertaken as part of the ESIA process. The document will inform EPA review and the development of mitigation measures and community agreements should the project proceed to construction and development.
