Canadian‑owned Ivanhoe Atlantic, formerly HPX, has signed a $1.8 billion concession and rail-access deal with Liberia.
This agreement grants Ivanhoe access to Liberia’s rail corridor from Tokadeh to the Buchanan port for a 25-year term, enabling transport of high-grade iron ore from Guinea and Liberia . The deal is part of Liberia’s shift toward an independently operated, multi‑user rail system under President Boakai’s Executive Order 136, opening national infrastructure up to competitive investment .
Ivanhoe Atlantic is a minerals company founded by Robert Friedland, with a flagship high‑grade iron‑ore project in Guinea and growing operations in Liberia . Known for targeting ultra‑high‑grade ores—valuable for producing green steel and defense applications—it is actively lobbying the US government to classify high‑grade iron ore as a critical mineral .
This partnership offers Liberia transformative economic and strategic benefits. The agreement anticipates $1.4 billion in rail-access fees, $600 million in taxes, and $175 million for local communities over 25 years, alongside nearly $900 million in infrastructure investment . It is projected to create hundreds of direct jobs and thousands indirectly, unlock private-sector growth, and integrate Liberia more fully into global critical-minerals supply chains—enhancing transparency, competition, and economic diversification .
For Ivanhoe Atlantic, this deal secures a crucial export route via Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure—an essential logistics pathway for maximizing the value of their Nimba and Kon Kweni deposits in Guinea . It also strengthens the company’s access to US political support for its broader strategic goals, including recognition of iron ore as a critical mineral. Overall, the partnership marks a pivotal step for both Liberia and Ivanhoe Atlantic in advancing regional mining infrastructure, resource governance, and the global green‑steel transition.
