IPNEWS: By Alexander Jones
For years, High Power Exploration (HPX) has maneuvered aggressively to secure rail access through Liberia to export iron ore from Guinea. The company, led by billionaire mining investor Robert Friedland, has employed various tactics to manipulate Liberian government officials into signing an agreement that lacks critical assurances from the Guinean government. But as the facts stand today, HPX has failed to provide any documented proof that the new Guinean authorities will allow its ore to be transported through Liberia.
The Shifting Political Landscape in Guinea
In 2019, under the previous administration in Guinea, a bilateral agreement was signed with Liberia to allow small mining companies to use Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure. However, much has changed since then. The previous Guinean government has been overthrown, and the new leadership in Conakry has taken a vastly different approach to resource management.
For over 60 years, Guinean authorities have remained firm in their stance that their vast iron ore deposits should be developed with domestic infrastructure investment, rather than relying on foreign routes. This policy has led to the launch of the Trans-Guinean Railway, an approximately 650-kilometer rail corridor connecting the massive Simandou iron ore deposit to a deepwater port in Conakry. This ambitious project, spearheaded by a consortium between Rio Tinto and Winning Corporation, is now nearly 80% complete and is expected to become operational by the end of 2025.
Once the Trans-Guinean Railway is operational, analysts overwhelmingly agree that there is no logical or economic reason for Guinea to permit iron ore transit through Liberia. The economic rationale is clear: why would Guinea allow the construction of a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure in Liberia when a massive domestic investment is already nearing completion?
HPX’s Unfounded Claims and the Need for Accountability
Despite this reality, HPX continues to insist that Guinea will allow it to transport more than 25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) through Liberia. However, when pressed by Liberian authorities to provide documented proof from the current Guinean government, HPX has repeatedly failed to do so. No official confirmation from Conakry has been provided, and HPX’s claims remain empty rhetoric.
A glaring inconsistency in HPX’s strategy is its failure to acknowledge the logical alternative: connecting its Nimba mine to the Trans-Guinean Railway, just 130 km away. Instead, HPX has pushed for the construction of a 240 km rail line and deepwater port in Liberia, a project it initially announced in 2024 with an estimated cost of US$3.5–5.0 billion—without conducting a comprehensive feasibility study.
Serious industry observers immediately questioned the feasibility of this proposal. The pressing question remains: why would Guinea allow a $5 billion infrastructure project in Liberia for the sole purpose of evacuating Guinean iron ore when that money could be spent on domestic infrastructure? The lack of a coherent answer from HPX exposes its strategy as a desperate attempt to force an agreement through political maneuvering rather than sound economic planning.
Time for HPX to Show Proof or Step Aside
For too long, HPX has operated in a cloud of deception, using propaganda to mislead stakeholders. But the time for illusions is over. Liberia must take a firm stance: HPX must provide official documentation from the current Guinean government affirming that it has permission to transport iron ore through Liberia—or abandon its misleading campaign.
The previous Guinean government may have been open to HPX’s plans, but the political and economic reality in Guinea has changed dramatically. It is time to hit the reset button and ensure that any agreement signed by Liberia is based on verifiable commitments rather than speculative promises.
The Liberian government and people, as well as the United States government, must not be deceived. HPX must be held accountable. No proof, no deal.
