Global iron ore mining giant, ArcellorMittal, is scheduled to lift the first shipment of ore from Liberia today Tuesday, September 27, 2011, the country’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has disclosed.

President Sirleaf told a surging crowd at her reelection campaign rally in Ganta (Gompa) City, Nimba County on Saturday, September 24, 2011 that the shipment will take place at the port of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

Amidst thunderous applauds from her supporters in Nimba County, President Sirleaf said “a new day has dawn for the country’s mining sector.”

The ore to be exported by ArcellorMittal is mined from the Yekepa Mine in Nimba County.

“After all of the work we have done to jumpstart our country’s economy, this is the time for us to see, feel, and benefit from the fruits of our work,” she added.

The President intoned that shipment of the ore will mean better healthcare delivery, more jobs, better roads, and better schools for the people of Liberia, amongst others.

“We have worked so hard to revamp and restore the country’s economic sector especially our mining sector,” the President said.

The ore will be exported from the port of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, ending 20 years of inactivity in the mining sector.

ArcellorMittal, a multibillion dollar Indian-American mining company, took over the abandoned Yekepa Mine in Nimba County five years ago, spending millions of United States dollars to revamp the mine.

The company has built a modern railway that connects Yekepa to Buchanan, and employed hundreds of Liberians and made available millions of dollars to the government (Nimba Bong, and Bassa counties) in social development funds, amongst others.

The President praised ArcellorMittal for the confidence it has shown in the government and people of Liberia by investing nearly two billion dollars to restart mining in the country.

“When we were elected in 2005, we promised our people that we were going to bring in credible investors that would help rebuild our country,” she said.

The Mittal Steel deal was first signed in 2004 by the former National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) and ratified by the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) where ownership of the railway and the port of Buchanan were given to Mittal Steel.

But after winning the presidential election in 2005, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf mandated renegotiation of the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) signed between the NTGL and ArcellorMittal to allow international best practice.

The renegotiated MDA witnessed the transferred of the ownership of the railway and the port of Buchanan to the government of Liberia.

According to the Liberian leader, ArcellorMittal and other companies have proven their credibility and commitment to government’s objective to rebuilding the country’s shattered economy and improve the lives of its citizens.

She assured the people of Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties and Liberians in general that the commencement of iron ore export by Mittal Steel will mark the beginning of creating more jobs and more revenue generation by the central government to develop the country.

She praised the people of Nimba for engaging in agriculture.

“I saw this demonstration while on my way here to Nimba where local farmers showcased their strength by displaying their agriculture products along the road. I bought some of the products, but I could not buy all because I never had enough money to buy all,” the President added.

She promised to encourage the ministries of Agriculture and Commerce &Industry of Liberia to buy the produce from the local farmers in order to avoid their produce from getting rotten.

Elder Edward Dolo of Gbain District, Nimba County in his intervention, congratulated President Sirleaf for her numerous development projects in Nimba in particular and Liberia in general.

“We appreciate you for what you have done for us,” he said.

Elder Dolo assured the President of Nimba citizens’ support for her reelection bid.

“We are supporting you because you have proven to us that you love this country. Your development projects are felt in all parts of the country including our county and this is the reason why we are going to reelect you Madam President,” Mr. Dolo said.

He however reminded the President that Ganta lacks many things including a city hall, and good market building.

The Elder reminded his compatriots in Nimba to elect people who sought their country’s interest.

He also used the occasion to congratulate ArcellorMittal for announcing the commencement of iron ore export from Liberia.

“This is what we have long yeaned for; to begin exporting ore from our country so that we can generate more employment for our people.”