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Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 01:03

Descrição

Country: Liberia
Capital: Monrovia
Language: English
Currency: Liberian Dollar
Number of Members (set/2011): 1.170


Odebrecht’s History in the Country:

After 15 years of civil wars and temporary governments, Liberia held a democratic election to choose its president in 2005, beginning a notable process of economic recovery. An important part of this strategy of growth in the country is the recovery of the production activities associated with its vast natural resources, which range from rubber and wood to ores, such as iron, diamond and gold. 

Odebrecht International is contributing toward this new phase with a challenging project: restore practically half of the railroad transportation structure in Liberia, allowing for the exploration of iron by ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel group.

The 243 km of railroad to be rebuilt connect the reserves of this ore that exist in Yekepa (Nimba County) at the border with Guinea and the Ivory Coast to Buchanan Port (Gran Bassa County). Abandoned 20 years ago, the port will also need to be rehabilitated, as well as the 250 km of roads involved in the operation.

Started in April 2010, the Iron Ore Project completed its first phase in April 2011, one month before the scheduled contract date. The occasion marked the first trip by a locomotive with loaded wagons along the entire extension of the railroad.

During the first phase, the goal is to create the infrastructure for the start of the commercial operations at the mine – called Direct Shipping Ore (DSO). The second phase will prepare the mine to reach its full transport capacity of 15 million tons of iron ore per year.
In addition to creating new job openings, the development is promoting important professional qualification initiatives together with the local population.

 

Ação Social

 In addition to participating in a new economic development cycle in Liberia, Odebrecht International has become engaged in actions of a social nature designed to promote the self-esteem, education and professional insertion of the population.

Within the sphere of the Iron Ore Project, the company instituted a Social Responsibility and Volunteer Work Committee, structured by four pillars. These are:

  • Development of Competencies
  • Highway and Railroad Safety
  • Health and Hygiene
  • Volunteer Work

The first and most important of these thematic areas will be focused on strengthening the only university-level teaching institution in Buchanan: the Grand Bassa Community College (GBCC), which also offers vocational courses.

This partnership includes the training of instructors and managers and training to give the youth from the community improved access to the job market. The students can choose between welder, industrial machine operator and lubrication courses, in addition to holding internships at companies operating in the country, such as Odebrecht.

The development of competencies and production of knowledge between new generations of Liberians are also promoted by the implementation of an English version of the Acreditar (“Believe”) Program, focused on professional qualification.

Started in October 2011, the Aspire Program - Liberia is conducted in a joint fashion with GBCC and offers free courses and internships in technical and administrative areas such as Industrial Machinery, Information Technology and Communication. All of the program material was adapted to the Liberian context with the support of non-governmental organizations, and came to include, for example, instructions on domestic water treatment.

Understanding that digital inclusion also constitutes a door of entry to the professional world – in addition to strengthening social inclusion and citizenship – the company implemented the “Hit the Net” Program in the country. Undertaken at different Odebrecht construction sites worldwide, the basic IT teaching project is opened to workers and the community in general and was renamed “Wired” in Liberia.

In June 2011, Odebrecht International also organized a Career Opportunity Fair in Buchanan to better inform local students about different professions. In addition to GBCC and the local government, other companies operating in Liberia, such as ArcelorMittal and Ecobank, were also partners on this initiative.