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DE RUEHMV #0256/01 0571013
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261012Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0085
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0001
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0001
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0001

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000256 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EMIN ECON LI
SUBJECT: ISRAELI COMPANY WINS LIBERIA'S LARGEST IRON ORE CONCESSION 
 
REF: 08 MONROVIA 744 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  Elenilto Minerals & Mining has won the concession 
to rehabilitate and develop the Western Cluster Iron Ore Deposits. 
Elenilto, the first Israeli company to invest in post-war Liberia, 
is expected to invest $2.4 billion to redevelop the mines and 
install a rail network.  While the Western Cluster is considered 
one of the largest iron ore deposits in the world, Liberia failed 
to attract the largest global steel companies, in part because of 
the country's infrastructure limitations, and in part because an 
early bidding process was canceled because of procedural errors. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) President Sirleaf and her cabinet announced on January 28 
that the Israeli-based Elenilto Minerals & Mining won the 
concession to rehabilitate and develop the Western Cluster Iron Ore 
Deposits.  The GOL estimates the concession will generate $2.4 
million in infrastructure investment, create 4,000 to 5,000 jobs, 
and generate revenues from royalty payments, surface rentals, 
license fees, corporate income taxes and import duties.  The 
Liberian government and the Israeli company will begin final 
negotiations in March for a Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), 
which the National Legislature also must ratify. 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) The Western Cluster iron ore project consists of three 
deposits, including two idle mines that span Bomi, Grand Cape Mount 
and Gbarpolu Counties.  The project covers the Mano River iron ore 
deposit (the former National Iron Ore Company, closed in 1976); the 
Bomi Hills iron ore deposits (the former Liberia Mining Company, 
closed in 1985); and the Bea Mountain iron ore deposits, which are 
virtually untouched. The project contains over 1.1 billion tons of 
iron ore and is considered to be one of the largest remaining 
deposits in the world. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) Deputy Minister for Lands and Mines E.C.B Jones, who also 
chaired the technical Bid Evaluation Panel, told Econoff that 
despite the concession's size, the bid attracted responses from 
only a handful of midsized international companies.  Jones said 
that the tender failed to entice global steel giants because the 
Western Cluster deposits contain two old mines with relatively low 
grade ores.  ArcelorMittal CEO Joe Matthews added that although 
ArcelorMittal initially bid on the Western Cluster, it opted not to 
participate in the second round of bidding because the timing 
coincided with both a liquidity crunch and a global slump in iron 
ore prices. 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) Elenilto was declared a provisional winner following a 
year-long due diligence conducted by international audit firms. 
Other bidders were Sociedade de Formento (India), Capital Steel 
Global Company (China), and Global Steel Holding Ltd (India). 
Jones noted that Capital Steel, which is part of the Shougang 
Corporation, was represented in the bidding process in Liberia by 
Neil Bush, brother of former President George W. Bush. 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) The bidding process began in February 2009 after the GOL, 
citing procedural errors and a failure to conduct due diligence, 
cancelled an earlier bid Delta Mining Consolidated of South Africa 
won in 2008 (reftel).  Subsequently, the President called for an 
amendment to the Public Procurement and Concessions Act, which now 
requires the GOL to conduct due diligence on all bidders, prior to 
evaluation and awarding of contracts.  Matthews added that while 
the fraught bidding process was not the primary motivation behind 
ArcelorMittal's decision not to renew its bid, it certainly was a 
contributing factor. 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) While the terms of the Elenilto deal remain undecided, 
Jones said negotiations will begin with provisional sums that 
include an upfront payment of $25 million, a commitment of $3 
million to a community development fund, and an annual rental tax 
 
MONROVIA 00000256  002 OF 002 
 
 
equivalent to 21% of the company's profits after an as-yet 
unspecified return on investment.  The 25-year renewable license 
will also require the Israelis to build 65 to 150 kilometers of 
railway line from the Freeport of Monrovia, improve port 
facilities, and invest in basic infrastructure such as schools, 
hospitals, and roads.  Jones noted that none of the expected 
revenues will be included in the draft 2010-2011 budget. 
 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: Given that this project is expected to provide 
substantial revenue for government and create ample socio-economic 
opportunities for Liberians, it is commendable that the GOL re-bid 
the concessions in order to comply with procurement standards and 
ensure the winning concessionaire could fulfill its financial and 
operational requirements.  Further, after China Union unexpectedly 
delayed payment of a $47 million signing fee, precipitating deep 
retrenchment in Liberia's modest cash-based budget, the GOL seems 
to be adopting a welcome fiscal caution by discounting up-front 
fees from its draft budget until it receives payment.  It is 
disappointing, however, that larger, more established international 
companies were scared off because of the timing of the global 
downturn and a lack of confidence in the process. 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD