CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — A number of members of the Liberian Senate have expressed robust dissatisfaction over what they described as uncommon and troubling legislative procedures that led to the passage of petroleum agreements involving Atlas/Oranto Petroleum Liberia Restricted and TotalEnergies—with out plenary debate.
By Obediah Johnson
Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung and Senate Professional Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence late Thursday night led intense consultations amongst majority senators, culminating in concurrence with the Home of Representatives to ratify the controversial Manufacturing Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with out ground debate.
Liberia signed 4 PSCs with TotalEnergies EP Liberia LLC, a subsidiary of the French multinational vitality agency, overlaying offshore deepwater blocks LB-6, LB-11, LB-17, and LB-29, spanning roughly 12,700 sq. kilometers within the southern Liberia Basin.
In a separate association, Liberia additionally signed 4 PSCs with Atlas/Oranto Petroleum Liberia Restricted, a neighborhood unit of the Nigerian-linked Oranto Petroleum Group, for offshore blocks LB-15, LB-16, LB-22, and LB-24.
Senators Protest Lack of Debate
The Senate’s approval of the agreements triggered robust objections from lawmakers representing counties inside the operational areas, who stated the offers had been handed with out sufficient session or debate.
The Senate Committee on Hydrocarbon and Setting, chaired by Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, had earlier pledged to conduct extra public hearings after authorities officers did not convincingly justify the agreements throughout an preliminary listening to.
Officers who appeared included LPRA Chairperson Marilyn Logan, NOCAL President Fabian Lai, LRA Commissioner Normal Dorbor Jallah, and Deputy Finance Minister for Fiscal Affairs Augustine Myers. Nevertheless, there isn’t a document that any additional hearings had been held previous to ratification.
The passage course of was additional marred by what senators described as unusual legislative developments, together with delays in vote tabulation, extended consultations between the presiding officer and chosen lawmakers, and the denial of a movement for reconsideration filed by Rivercess County Senator Wellington Geevon Smith.
A movement to cross the agreements with out debate was launched by Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie, who argued that the problems had already been mentioned throughout committee-level consultations held behind closed doorways.
Regional Lawmakers Object
Senator Gbleh-bo Brown of Maryland County rejected the method, stressing the far-reaching implications of the agreements for southeastern Liberia.
“I’m from the southeast the place this concession can be working. These are crucial devices that may affect the southeast and our nation. In precept, a few of us assist them, however to vote to cross them with no debate is what I reject. These devices ought to be debated earlier than any vote,” Brown stated.
Equally, Senator Wellington Geevon Smith declared:
“We, the lawmakers from the coastal areas, will not be comfortable as a result of this settlement doesn’t embody the pursuits of our folks.”
Konneh Warns of Harmful Precedent
In an announcement issued after the vote, Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh, who voted for the TotalEnergies settlement however opposed the Oranto deal, warned that the Senate’s motion units a harmful precedent.
“By ratifying the Oranto settlement, the Senate joined the Government in squandering a crucial alternative to uphold requirements the petroleum sector urgently wants,” Konneh stated, including that paper ensures had been allowed to substitute for confirmed technical competence.
Questions Over Oranto’s Capability
Senator Konneh stated Senate evaluation discovered no proof that Oranto Petroleum has efficiently carried out frontier-phase exploration. He disclosed that claims of Oranto working producing property in Equatorial Guinea had been inaccurate, noting that Atlas Petroleum Worldwide, not Oranto, holds such pursuits.
He emphasised that Atlas and Oranto are distinct entities and that reliance on assure statements as an alternative of demonstrated experience undermines greatest practices in petroleum governance.
Considerations Over Signature Bonus
Konneh additionally criticized the restructuring of the US$15 million signature bonus, which was cut up into installments as an alternative of being paid upfront.
Below the settlement, solely US$5 million is due inside 4 months of ratification, whereas the remaining US$10 million is tied to future milestones—seismic acquisition and exploration drilling—over 4 years.
“This weakens Liberia’s negotiating place and encourages speculative conduct,” he warned.
Exploration Interval Violates Regulation
The senator additional argued that the settlement violates Part 21.1 of Liberia’s Petroleum Regulation, which caps exploration at seven years. The Oranto settlement grants a ten-year exploration interval, opposite to the regulation and regional norms in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
“These deviations reopen Liberia’s basin to underqualified corporations whose enterprise mannequin is to amass, maintain, and flip blocks fairly than discover them,” Konneh stated.
Divided Senate
Senator Nathaniel McGill voted towards the Oranto settlement however supported the TotalEnergies deal.
Those that voted in favor of each agreements embody Senators Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, Abraham Darius Dillon, Saah Joseph, Joseph Jallah, Momo Cyrus, Emmanuel Nuquay, Prince Moye, Johnnie Kpehe, Simeon Taylor, Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, Thomas Yaya Nimely, Gbotoe Kanneh, Albert Chie, Numene Bartekwa, Jonathan Sogbie, Edwin Snowe, Alex Tyler, Samuel Kogar, and Nya Twayen.
Senate Concurs with Home on Ivanhoe Rail Entry Deal
Additionally on Thursday, the Liberian Senate concurred with the Home of Representatives on the passage of the Rail Entry and Concession Settlement granting Ivanhoe Atlantic, by its Liberian and Guinean subsidiaries, entry to the Yekepa–Buchanan Port infrastructure hall.
The settlement, which allows Ivanhoe to move iron ore from neighboring Guinea by Liberia for export, was accredited by 20 senators.
Nevertheless, as with the TotalEnergies and Oranto agreements, the passage was marred by controversy. Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph, who initially presided over Senate deliberations on the Ivanhoe deal, voted towards the concurrence, citing unresolved considerations raised by the Senate Transport Committee.
Joseph Raises Objections
Senator Joseph stated key circumstances demanded by his committee—together with street paving and different infrastructure commitments—weren’t addressed earlier than the settlement was delivered to a vote.
He famous that paperwork requested from authorities representatives had been by no means supplied, together with clarification linked to an idea be aware from the Authorities of Guinea, which he stated ought to have knowledgeable the ultimate settlement.
Joseph additional argued that Ivanhoe ought to have been required to decide to paving the street from Nimba County to Guinea, with such obligations clearly enshrined within the settlement.
He additionally stated the corporate’s company social accountability (CSR) commitments, which had been to be applied by the federal government, had been excluded from the ultimate deal.
In accordance with Joseph, the committee had requested that Ivanhoe decide to developing the railway inside two years, however that timeline was not mirrored within the settlement.
He additional criticized the proposed US$1.95 per metric ton transportation payment for iron ore, describing it as too low and proposing a minimal of US$3 per metric ton as an alternative.
Joseph additionally harassed that the US$37 million beforehand paid by Ivanhoe to the previous Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led administration shouldn’t be handled as a signature bonus below the present settlement.
Combined Senate Response
Senators Gbehzohngar Findley, Gbleh-bo Brown, Amara Konneh, and Wellington Geevon Smith abstained from voting, whereas Nimba County Senator Nya Twayen walked out of the chamber previous to the vote.
In regards to the Deal
The concession grants Ivanhoe entry to Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure—primarily the Yekepa–Buchanan rail hall—to export iron ore mined in Guinea. The settlement kinds a part of a broader regional transport framework, requiring bilateral coordination with Guinea because the ore originates there however is shipped by Liberia.
The deal is reported to contain roughly US$1.8 billion in investments, charges, and infrastructure upgrades to Liberia’s rail and port methods, aligning with Liberia’s technique to place itself as a regional logistics hub for mining exports and industrial freight.
Below the settlement, Section I entry is predicted to permit transport of about 5 million metric tonnes per yr (mtpa), with Section II enlargement projected to achieve as much as 30 mtpa, topic to regulatory approvals and feasibility research.
Ivanhoe has already made an preliminary US$37 million cost to safe entry rights, with extra funds—reportedly within the tens of hundreds of thousands—scheduled upon ratification and achievement of entry milestones.
The settlement additionally establishes a Group Growth Fund to assist host communities by investments in infrastructure, schooling, and healthcare.
Finances Additionally Handed
In the meantime, the Senate has concurred with the Home of Representatives on the passage of the FY2025 Nationwide Finances, totaling over US$1.2 billion.
