Liberia is positioning itself as a strategic gateway for critical minerals to U.S. and allied markets by promoting the Liberty Corridor, a US$1 billion rail and port upgrade that backers say could transform the West African nation into a reliable node in global supply chains.
Ivanhoe Atlantic, through local subsidiary Ivanhoe Liberia, plans to expand the Yekepa–Buchanan railway and upgrade Buchanan Port to an initial capacity of 2–5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with potential to scale to 30 mtpa to serve the Kon Kweni iron ore project.
The company holds a fully ratified Concession and Access Agreement for the route and secured environmental permits in March 2026 to advance transport and logistics works, officials said.
The proposal was highlighted at a high-level Paris meeting on financing critical minerals ahead of the G7 summit in Evian, where Ivanhoe Atlantic’s Executive Chairman Dr. J. Peter Pham joined executives from banks and industry. Ivanhoe Atlantic was one of only three U.S. resource companies participating.
The meeting produced a joint statement signed by corporates including Airbus, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan and endorsed by the B7 business coalition, signaling growing institutional appetite for coordinated investment in strategic mineral projects.
Proponents argue the Liberty Corridor’s multi-user model — with Ivanhoe as the rail line’s first customer — reduces risk for financiers while delivering public goods. Shared infrastructure is designed to serve mining, agriculture, forestry and general freight, a structure intended to boost competition, lower unit transport costs and widen economic benefits beyond ore exports.
Ivanhoe Liberia projects the first phase will create about 500 direct jobs in construction, haulage, port operations and engineering, and roughly 3,000 indirect positions in services such as hospitality, healthcare and transportation.
The company has also pledged a Community Development Fund beginning at US$1 million annually and rising to US$5 million after five years, part of efforts to embed local value and social safeguards in Nimba, Grand Bassa and Bong.
The proposal aligns with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda and builds on the government’s plan to establish a National Rail Authority to govern the railway as a strategic sovereign asset. Backers say governance structures, transparent revenue sharing and local hiring commitments will be critical to attracting further international capital.
If implemented effectively, Liberia could leverage its coastal access and resource base to become a leading West African hub in the global critical minerals value chain. As global investors look for credible, scalable projects in Africa, Liberia has an opportunity to position itself as a leader in responsible mining and infrastructure development.
The Liberty Corridor offers a blueprint for how the country can harness its sovereign infrastructure and strategic geographical positioning to drive sustainable growth, attract international investment, and play a pivotal role in the global economy.
