YEKEPA, NIMBA COUNTY – ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) has taken a significant step in strengthening professional skills and safety culture at its mining operations, following the successful certification of 19 Liberian mine operators under a newly introduced, internationally aligned training regime.
The operators, all from Shift A, completed a rigorous competency-based program delivered by the Mobile Equipment Training Unit of the ArcelorMittal Liberia Training Academy (AMLTA). The initiative represents a strategic shift in how the company prepares its workforce—moving beyond routine in-house instruction toward globally recognized operational standards.
According to AMLTA’s Manager for Operations Training and Compliance, Ruth Negash, the certification marks a first in the company’s operational history. She noted that aligning mine operations with international benchmarks is essential not only for productivity, but also for safety, consistency, and long-term sustainability across AML’s mine sites.
Unlike conventional training programs, the course combined classroom learning with intensive hands-on equipment operation and strict performance evaluations. Participants were assessed on technical competence, operational discipline, safety awareness, and adherence to modern mining practices. Only those who met all prescribed standards received certification, reinforcing the merit-based nature of the program.
The impact of the initiative extends beyond individual achievement. AML views the certification as a tool for standardizing mine operations, reducing operational risks, and embedding a stronger safety culture throughout its workforce. By professionalizing equipment operation, the company aims to ensure greater efficiency and fewer incidents in a sector where precision and discipline are critical.
To further encourage excellence, AML recognized three operators for outstanding performance, awarding distinctions for Best Excavator Operator, Best Dozer Operator, and Best Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) Operator. The recipients were praised for demonstrating exceptional skill, consistency, and professionalism, serving as role models for their colleagues.
More broadly, the milestone reflects ArcelorMittal Liberia’s sustained investment in Liberian human capital. Through its Training Academy, the company continues to deliver structured programs in heavy equipment operation, mechanical and electrical trades, safety and compliance, leadership development, and technical mentorship—skills that are transferable beyond the mining sector.
For the newly certified operators, the achievement represents both recognition and responsibility: recognition of their commitment to professional growth, and responsibility to uphold the standards now expected of internationally certified mine personnel. For AML, it signals a deliberate effort to build a skilled, safety-conscious Liberian workforce capable of competing within the global mining industry while supporting national capacity development.
