Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc, together with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accredited environmental consultant Earth time, moved a step closer to regulatory approval of its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) after consultations with the EPA and local stakeholders in Nimba County.
The meeting focused on the ESIA for the infrastructure component of Ivanhoe Atlantic’s Phase 1 development, which will link the Yekepa–Buchanan railway to the Kon Kweni ultra high-grade iron ore project in Guinea.
Earth time was commissioned to conduct the ESIA, which was submitted to regulators in October 2025 following a multiyear scoping program of social, biophysical and biodiversity baseline studies.
Ivanhoe Atlantic representatives, including Tom Steytler, Head of Environmental Studies, Henrique Caine, Country Director for Liberia, and David Sulonteh, Nimba and Upper Bong Community Relations Specialist, presented the company’s community engagement plan and funding allocations.
The company said its transparent approach helped build trust with county representatives attending the consultations.
“This meeting at the rail site with local Nimba representatives and the EPA allowed us to present our community engagement plan and funding mechanism with full transparency,” Steytler said.
“Ivanhoe Atlantic remains committed to ensuring the community and environmental surroundings alongside our operations remain places where families, businesses, and wildlife can thrive.”
The ESIA addresses foreseeable social and environmental effects from project implementation and proposes mitigation measures to avoid, reduce or restore potential impacts. Ivanhoe Atlantic says the application complies with International Finance Corporation standards and the Equator Principles.
With the ratification of its Concession and Access Agreement in December 2025, Ivanhoe Atlantic secured rights of access to the Yekepa–Buchanan corridor rail and port infrastructure, which traverses Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa counties.
That milestone supports plans to begin initial shipments related to the Kon Kweni project.
Ivanhoe Atlantic projects the development will attract large scale investment to Nimba and generate approximately 500 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs in Liberia over the project lifecycle.
