Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr., who has positioned himself as a leading voice on concession compliance, has released a detailed statement outlining strict conditions that major concessionaires must meet before earning his approval. In the press statement, issued through his office, Senator Twayen emphasized that his stance remains rooted in ensuring full adherence to Liberian laws, transparency in negotiation processes, and the protection of citizens and host communities.
According to the statement, Senator Twayen’s office has completed a thorough review of three major concession arrangements currently under consideration: Ivanhoe, ORANTO Petroleum, and ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML). He stressed that any concession must reach at least 85 percent compliance to receive his legislative support.
In the case of the Ivanhoe Concession Access Agreement, Senator Twayen disclosed that the project achieved a 77 percent compliance score—an improvement, but still short of the required benchmark. He insisted that several critical conditions must be met before the agreement can advance. Among his concerns is the need for the road leading from Nimba County to the Guinea border, intended for iron ore transport, to be fully paved to prevent environmental harm and ease community discomfort. He also warned against any arrangement that exposes the government to potential repayment of the US$37 million allegedly taken by the previous administration. Additionally, he noted that the concession cannot proceed without a clear rail operations framework involving the Government of Liberia, Ivanhoe, and ArcelorMittal. Senator Twayen further demanded a well-defined community development fund managed exclusively by the community and government, not the company.
Turning to ORANTO Petroleum, the senator revealed that the company’s compliance rating stands at 72 percent, which he described as insufficient for approval. He outlined several issues that must be corrected, including the need for ORANTO to provide evidence of purchasing new seismic data for the four oil blocks under discussion. Senator Twayen insisted that the company cannot rely on decade-old data that has already been monetized, stressing that new data purchases would generate US$800,000 in revenue for the government. He also raised concerns about the 25 percent stake reserved for Liberia, arguing that it should not rely on difficult-to-access joint investment funds. Furthermore, the senator called on ORANTO to prove its offshore operational capacity by presenting a record of active work in other jurisdictions.
Regarding ArcelorMittal Liberia, Senator Twayen clarified that the legislature has not yet received any updated Mineral Development Agreement from the company. He noted that his office has spent seven months documenting major noncompliance issues and violations of the existing agreement, and that these findings have already been communicated to President Boakai and the Nimba Legislative Caucus. A comprehensive fact sheet has also been submitted to the Senate for review. He reiterated his firm position that AML must fully honor and retroactively implement all obligations it has previously violated before any new agreement can be entertained.
Senator Twayen reaffirmed his commitment to standing with communities and promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in concession dealings. He emphasized that Liberia’s natural resources belong to its people, and that every concession agreement must clearly reflect this principle.
