Liberia: AML Blames Theft for Train Derailment

The management of ArcelorMittal Liberia believes criminals are responsible for the continued derailment of its locomotives.

In a statement from the company through its communication department, regarding the recent derailment of one of the locomotives, the company said the incident appears to have been caused by missing railway fasteners. 

“Over the last year, ArcelorMittal Liberia has experienced a significant increase of theft of rail plates and other metal fasteners that secure the tracks to the rail sleepers,” said the statement from AML in response to the recent derailment.

“This most recent incident appears to present another incident  in the same trend,” the statement said.

Even though AML is blaming theft for the cause of most of the derailments, others believe that the railway is old and depleted and requires complete rehabilitation.

Under condition of anonymity, because of fears of dismissal, some employees said the recent reconstruction work done by the Brazilian Company from 2005 to 2010 had the duration of five years.

However, they suggest that the five years had long expired and that a new rehabilitation exercise is overdue.

On February 20, 2024, a locomotive marked ‘1504’, loaded with ore derailed while enroute to the port of Buchanan at kilometers 223, near Mount Tokadeh in Yekepa.

The Daily Observer established the train was carrying about 63 wagons but, upon the derailment, 22 wagons derailed, causing a massive ore spill along the way.

In the process, a portion of the track was destroyed.

No injury or fatalities were reported, but the movement of trains along the Yekepa-Buchanan route has come to a halt.

Few months ago, AML’s operation along the Yekepa-Buchanan route was hampered after the rail bridge linking Bong and Nimba counties collapsed when some of the cargo on board a locomotive crashed into the bridge.

Last year alone, more than three detainments were reported, leaving most of the iron ore spilled. It is not clear how much of the spilled ore can be retrieved after the rail is repaired.

However, AML said the recent incident and all other rail incidents were reported to the Liberia National Police, who has yet to release any report of any incident involving rail accidents.

“An inspection of the derailment site by ArcelorMittal Liberia is ongoing to ascertain the cause and the level of damage,” AML said.

Adding, “Normal transportation of iron ore product is on hold to enable repair of the affected section of the rail line.”

“The management of ArcelorMittal Liberia condemns, in the strongest terms, the act of theft and will call for the arrest and prosecution of any persons responsible,” the statement from the communication office concluded.