MONROVIA — Nimba County District 7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility has announced his firm opposition to the ratification of the proposed ArcelorMittal Liberia Mineral Development Agreement Amendment No. 3, declaring that he will not vote in favor of the deal in its current form.
In a press statement issued on January 13, 2026, Rep. Bility said his position is grounded in the Legislature’s constitutional duty to protect Liberia’s national interest, public revenue, and legal framework. He stressed that while Liberia needs foreign direct investment, such investment must be lawful, transparent, enforceable, and structured to deliver clear and measurable benefits to the Liberian people.
Bility warned that the proposed amendment would lock Liberia into what he described as a “generational contract” by extending the concession arrangement to December 20, 2050, with provisions for further extension. He cautioned that such a long-term commitment weakens Liberia’s leverage, restricts future governments, and limits the country’s ability to renegotiate terms in line with evolving national priorities.
A major concern raised by the lawmaker is the proposal to replace statutory mining payments with a fixed contract figure. Beginning January 1, 2031, the amendment would require the concessionaire to pay surface rent and a fixed annual mining license fee of US$500,000 in lieu of statutory Class A Mining License fees. Bility said this approach undermines Liberia’s revenue base, creates serious legal risks, and sets a dangerous precedent for other concessions.
The Nimba County representative also cautioned against provisions that could effectively turn Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure into private chokepoints. He emphasized that rail and port assets are strategic national corridors that should support broader economic development, not be controlled in a manner that limits access or competition. According to Bility, the amendment fails to sufficiently guarantee strong independent regulation, transparent tariffs, and nondiscriminatory access.
On community development, Bility criticized what he described as weak and unenforceable provisions. While the amendment references a Social Infrastructure Plan, he said the remedies for nonperformance are inadequate, reducing community obligations to what amounts to a donation model rather than binding commitments backed by enforceable sanctions.
Bility further warned that the amendment carries long-term risks related to governance, land management, transparency, and accountability. He said any agreement of such magnitude must strictly align with constitutional responsibilities, lawful land processes, and clear public accountability standards, which he argued the current proposal does not sufficiently meet.
He outlined minimum conditions that should be met if the Legislature is to consider approving a revised agreement. These include restructuring rail and port infrastructure under a regulated framework with clear government oversight, transparent tariffs, and nondiscriminatory access, as well as aligning all fees and rents with existing Liberian statutes by removing “in lieu of” language.
Bility also called for stronger performance obligations, including enforceable penalties and step-in rights for failure to meet rail expansion milestones, and for community obligations to be made binding through escrow-backed funding, independent audits, and remedies that compel delivery.
Additionally, he urged the inclusion of periodic public interest and fiscal review clauses to allow Liberia to reassess key terms at defined intervals based on inflation, market conditions, national development priorities, and concessionaire performance.
Reaffirming his stance, Rep. Bility declared that Liberia’s natural resources belong to the Liberian people, and that the Legislature’s responsibility is not merely to ratify agreements, but to ensure that any agreement approved is lawful, transparent, enforceable, and genuinely beneficial to the nation.
