High Power Exploration (HPX), a mining company led by Robert Friedland, has been relentlessly pursuing access to Liberian rail infrastructure to facilitate iron ore export from its Nimba mine in Guinea. Their strategy has relied heavily on influencing Liberian officials to sign an agreement without securing concrete assurances from the Guinean government, the ultimate authority on the matter. Despite repeated requests, HPX has failed to provide any official documentation confirming Guinea’s approval for this transit arrangement, raising serious doubts about the viability of their proposed project. Their continued insistence on this plan, despite a shifting political and economic landscape in Guinea, suggests a reliance on political maneuvering rather than sound economic rationale.
The political backdrop in Guinea has drastically altered since a 2019 bilateral agreement with Liberia, which granted smaller mining companies access to Liberian infrastructure. A change in government has brought a renewed focus on domestic infrastructure development for resource management, a long-standing policy in Guinea. This commitment is exemplified by the Trans-Guinean Railway, a multi-billion-dollar project nearing completion that will connect the significant Simandou iron ore deposit to a Guinean port. This project undermines the economic justification for exporting Guinean ore through Liberia, as it offers a more direct and strategically advantageous route within Guinea itself.
HPX’s claims of guaranteed transit through Liberia are unsupported by any official confirmation from the current Guinean administration. Their persistent inability to provide documented proof casts a shadow over their entire strategy and raises questions about their transparency. Furthermore, HPX’s plan bypasses a more logical and cost-effective alternative: connecting the Nimba mine to the already established Trans-Guinean Railway, a mere 130 km away. Instead, they propose constructing a new 240 km rail line and port in Liberia, a project estimated to cost billions of dollars, without a thorough feasibility study. This raises serious concerns about the project’s economic viability and the motivations behind HPX’s insistence on the Liberian route.
The economic argument against HPX’s proposal is compelling. Why would Guinea sanction a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project in a neighboring country when it has already invested heavily in its own domestic infrastructure, specifically designed for iron ore transport? HPX’s failure to address this fundamental question exposes the weakness of their plan and suggests a desperate attempt to secure the Liberian route through political pressure rather than sound economic planning. Their continued reliance on unsubstantiated claims and their disregard for the more logical alternative of utilizing the Trans-Guinean Railway raises serious doubts about their commitment to a sustainable and mutually beneficial approach.
The time has come for HPX to substantiate its claims or withdraw its proposal. Liberia must demand concrete evidence of Guinean approval before proceeding with any agreement. HPX’s reliance on propaganda and misleading information must be challenged, and the Liberian government, along with the United States government, must prioritize transparency and accountability. The previous Guinean administration’s openness to HPX’s plan is irrelevant in the current political and economic climate. A new agreement must be based on verifiable commitments, not speculative promises. The principle should be clear: no proof, no deal.
The continued pursuit of this project by HPX, despite the lack of Guinean approval and the existence of a more viable alternative, raises concerns about their true intentions. Their strategy appears to prioritize political maneuvering and potentially short-term gains over long-term economic sustainability and mutually beneficial partnerships. Liberia must exercise caution and demand full transparency from HPX before committing to any agreement that could have significant economic and environmental consequences. The focus should be on fostering sustainable development and responsible resource management, which necessitates a thorough evaluation of all available options and a commitment to verifiable agreements, not speculative promises based on shifting political landscapes.
