Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc. said the Government of Liberia has formally accepted its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Phase One transport and logistics infrastructure supporting the Kon Kweni ultra high grade iron ore project. This clears a key regulatory hurdle for the company’s plans to use Liberian rail and port facilities.
The ESIA, prepared by Liberian consultant Earthtime Group and vetted by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, covers multi user rail and Buchanan port upgrades and associated logistics.
Ivanhoe Atlantic said the approval advances Phase One activities and follows the December 2025 ratification of a Concession and Access Agreement (CAA) that grants the company access to Liberia’s rail and port network.
“This approvals milestone in Liberia is a testament to the dedication and thoroughness demonstrated by our Ivanhoe Atlantic team and our specialist partners,” said retired US Ambassador Dr. J. Peter Pham, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO.
He added that the company is committed to environmental stewardship, community wellbeing and developing multi user infrastructure that creates jobs and long term value for Liberia.
Ivanhoe Atlantic said the ESIA was developed to evaluate foreseeable environmental and social effects, prescribe mitigation measures and outline multiyear biodiversity, social and stakeholder engagement programs.
The company noted the assessment aligns with Liberian regulatory requirements, with International Finance Corporation standards and with the Equator Principles.
Phase One is framed as an initial upgrade to the Yekepa–Buchanan corridor to enable exports from Kon Kweni, with the infrastructure rollout expected to support an initial 2–5 million tonnes per annum ramping to as much as 30 mtpa. The company projects the Kon Kweni development will create about 500 direct and some 3,000 indirect jobs over the project lifecycle.
Kon Kweni, located in southeast Guinea near the Liberian border, is described by Ivanhoe Atlantic as a world class deposit with 751.9 million tonnes of Direct Ship Ore, including 209 million tonnes grading above 67% iron. Ivanhoe Atlantic holds an operating convention in Guinea for the project; its subsidiary owns 85% of Kon Kweni while the Government of Guinea holds 15%. The project is forecast to generate about millions in revenue for Liberia over the mine’s life.
The Liberian approval clears a domestic regulatory box ahead of final permits expected from Guinea, the company said.
The move builds on a 2021 Bilateral Implementation Agreement between Liberia and Guinea designed to enable shared use of transport infrastructure and boost sub regional economic integration.
Liberia is also moving to establish a National Rail Authority to oversee the railway, a development Ivanhoe Atlantic said would return governance of the strategic asset to the state and support a multi user access model favored by President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST agenda.
