-Senators Konneh, Sogbie, Demand Probe
Two members of the Liberian Senate do not seem to be pleased with a new oil deal the National Oil Company of Liberia, NOCAL, has reportedly entered into.
Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Konneh and River Gee Senator, Jonathan Boye Charles Sogbie have expressed reservations, calling for the immediate suspension and investigation of what they called ‘NOCAL’s controversial’ oil contracts.
The two Senators said it has come to light that NOCAL has entered into agreements with two overseas firms, GeoPartners and Searcher, which, according to the senators, allegedly permit the companies to conduct petroleum “reconnaissance” activities in Liberia without the required license from the LPRA.
Senators Konneh and Sobie emphasized that according to Section 11.1 of the Petroleum Law, such reconnaissance activities must be exclusively licensed by the LPRA.
“A company may, upon paying the required fee, apply to the Authority for a 'reconnaissance' license in a designated area to carry out surveys—excluding drilling—to assess the geological, geophysical, geochemical, and geotechnical characteristics of that area.” they noted.
In their letter to the Liberian Senate Plenary, they highlighted a troubling jurisdictional conflict between the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) concerning the implementation of the 2014 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, known as the "Petroleum Law" and If left unaddressed, this dispute could damage investor confidence, hinder revenue collection, muddy regulatory clarity, and threaten the integrity of Liberia’s valuable hydrocarbon sector.
It can be recalled when the Petroleum Law was enacted. It clearly defined the roles: NOCAL was established as a commercial state-owned enterprise. At the same time, LPRA was empowered to oversee upstream petroleum activities, including NOCAL itself. This structure was designed to promote accountability, prevent conflicts of interest, and align Liberia’s legal framework with international standards.
They maintained that despite this clear legal framework, NOCAL claims its actions are lawful. However, if this jurisdictional fight remains unresolved, it could set a dangerous precedent, weakening the rule of law in Liberia’s petroleum industry and hindering future legislative reforms
"The Senate must act decisively now to settle this dispute by preserving the law before it inflicts lasting damage on energy-sector governance," they concluded.
