Monrovia, Feb. 18 -- In a bold and unprecedented move, HPX-represented by Ivanhoe-has issued an ultimatum to the Government of Liberia. According to a January 2025 letter, if an Access Agreement is not signed by February 15, 2025, the company will invoke a default under the March 2022 Framework Agreement. This default, it is claimed, will oblige Liberia to pay US$37 million, compounded annually at a 10% interest rate. But behind this financial threat lie demands that are not only procedurally and substantively flawed, but they also undermine Liberia's national interests, according to experts.

A Demand for 30 mtpa Rail Capacity Without a Clear Basis

One of the most contentious points in the Ivanhoe letter is the insistence that the Gover...