10/03/2026
March 10, 2026
Press Statement on the Future of the Putu Iron Ore Concession
To the people of Electoral District 3, Grand Gedeh County, and all Liberians, there's a matter of profound importance to our county and our nation's economic future: the impending transition of the Putu Iron Ore Concession, which I want to address.
First and foremost, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. We thank him for his leadership and for demonstrating that the revitalization of Putu Mountain is a priority for his administration. We are particularly encouraged by his decision to appoint the Vice President of Liberia to directly chair and oversee the negotiations that will lead to a new Mineral Development Agreement (MDA). This high-level attention signals a commitment to getting this right.
The appointment of the Vice President is welcome and underscores the strategic national importance of this project. We see this as a commitment to transparency and due diligence. However, as this process moves forward, it is imperative that this administration learns from the past. We have seen other Concessions across this country that are either underperforming or were structured in a way that failed to deliver tangible benefits to the Liberian people. We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes. The agreement we sign must be a model of fairness and shared prosperity.
Putu Mountain is not just a mountain; it is the heartbeat of Grand Gedeh. Its resources must ultimately translate into better roads, functioning schools, accessible Healthcare, and economic opportunities for our people. Our community has waited too long, and this time, the agreement must serve the interests of Grand Gedeh and Liberia as a whole.
To ensure that the lessons of the past guide our future, we must be clear about the obligations that the original concessionaire, Severstal, failed to meet. The 2010 Mineral Development Agreement between the government of Liberia and Putu Iron Ore Mining INC (Severstal) contained binding commitments that were never fulfilled. As we consider a "Change of Control" to a new investor, these original commitments cannot be forgotten; they must be the baseline for a new agreement.
According to the terms of the original 25-year MDA, Severstal was obligated to:
1. Make Annual Community Contributions: The company was required to make specific annual payments for community funding, including contributions to education and scientific research, as outlined in Section 8.2 (a, b & c) of the agreement.
2. Construct Critical Road Infrastructure: The MDA mandated the construction of a two-lane paved all-weather road between Greenville and Zwedru, a vital artery for our people and the local economy, as detailed in section 6.6 (Concerning Road Renovation).
3. Develop Rail and Port Facilities: The company was to construct a railroad for private and commercial operations, and a general port with significant capacity, as stipulated in Section 6.7 (a & f) (Concerning Railroad and Port Construction and Operations).
4. Provide Medical Care: The agreement obligated the company to construct a hospital facility that would provide a wide range of curative and preventive medical services to the community, as per Section 10 (Medical Care).
5. Prioritize Liberian Empowerment and Training: The company was mandated to hire at least 30% Liberians in management positions within the first five years, including 30% of its ten most senior roles, in line with Section 11 (a, b, c, d) (Employment, Training, and Education).
For over a decade, these promises have remained unfulfilled. As the government finalizes the "Change of Control" from the Russian owners to the new investors, these original social development commitments must be non-negotiable. We cannot accept a new investor's proposal that ignores the baseline needs of our people.
To the Vice President and the government's negotiation team, I say this: we will support your efforts, but we will also be vigilant. The people of Grand Gedeh have waited since 2014, and for 11 years, our communities have been in suspense. As you finalize this deal, I urge you to ensure that the new agreement looks at the following:
Demands proof of capital- We must ensure the incoming investor has the financial capacity to begin work immediately, not just promises of future funding, and not one that will acquire to resell.
Secures all outstanding commitments. The new investor must explicitly adopt and commit to fulfilling the original social development projects for Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, and River Gee.
Guarantees local employment- The employment targets for Liberians must not only be reaffirmed but also strictly enforced.
Builds in accountability- These obligations must be clear conditions of the agreement, with failure to perform constituting a default that allows the government to cancel.
The time for promises is over. The time for action and tangible benefits for our people is now. Let us work together to ensure that the rebirth of Putu brings with it a new era of prosperity for all Liberians.
Thank you!
Hon. Jacob Cheategba Debee, II
Representative, Electoral District #3
Grand Gedeh County
