By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – Two Liberian senators are calling for urgent Senate intervention into what they describe as a growing jurisdictional conflict between the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), warning that the dispute could undermine investor confidence, weaken regulatory transparency, and threaten the integrity of Liberia’s petroleum governance framework.
In a communication addressed to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence on Monday, June 1, 2026, Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh and River Gee County Senator Jonathan Boye Charles Sogbie requested that the Senate exercise its oversight authority to investigate allegations that NOCAL has authorized petroleum reconnaissance activities without the approval required under Liberian law.
The lawmakers argued that the matter extends beyond an institutional disagreement and strikes at the heart of Liberia’s efforts to establish a transparent and accountable petroleum sector.
“We write to respectfully draw the attention of the Honorable Senate to a jurisdictional conflict between the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) in the implementation of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 2014,” the senators stated in their communication.
According to Senators Konneh and Sogbie, the Petroleum Law clearly established separate and distinct roles for the two institutions. Under the law, NOCAL operates as a commercial state-owned enterprise, while the LPRA serves as the independent regulator responsible for overseeing upstream petroleum activities, including activities involving NOCAL itself.
The senators noted that this framework was deliberately created to promote accountability, prevent conflicts of interest, and align Liberia’s petroleum governance system with internationally accepted standards.
“The governance architecture was designed to enforce accountability, prevent conflicts of interest, and align Liberia’s legal framework with international best practice,” the communication stated.
At the center of the controversy are reports that NOCAL has entered into agreements with two foreign companies, GeoPartners and Searcher, authorizing them to conduct petroleum reconnaissance activities in Liberia.
The lawmakers contend that such activities require a reconnaissance license issued exclusively by the LPRA under Section 11.1 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 2014.
“It has been reported that NOCAL has entered into an agreement with two foreign companies, GeoPartners and Searcher, and that this partnership has authorized the companies to conduct petroleum reconnaissance activities in Liberia without a license from the LPRA,” the senators wrote.
The communication further emphasized that the language of the Petroleum Law is clear and leaves little room for conflicting interpretations.
“This statutory language is unambiguous, yet NOCAL maintains that its actions are legal,” the senators noted. “If this conflict is left unaddressed, such precedents erode the rule of law in the petroleum sector and undermine the utility of future legislative reforms.”
Concerned about the implications of the dispute, the lawmakers are requesting that the Senate summon key government officials to provide clarity on the matter. They specifically called for the appearance of the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Mines and Energy, the head of the LPRA, and the President of NOCAL before the full Senate.
The proposed hearing, according to the senators, should determine whether the activities undertaken by GeoPartners and Searcher qualify as reconnaissance petroleum activities under Liberian law, whether the companies were legally required to obtain LPRA licenses before commencing operations, and whether such licenses were ever issued.
The hearing would also examine the precise legal boundaries separating the authority of NOCAL and LPRA in the awarding and management of petroleum rights, as well as identify reforms necessary to prevent future institutional conflicts.
In a move that underscores the seriousness of their concerns, Senators Konneh and Sogbie are further requesting that the Senate direct NOCAL to submit copies of its agreements with GeoPartners and Searcher for legislative review.
They are also urging the Senate to order a temporary halt to any ongoing engagements or petroleum-related activities involving the two companies until lawmakers complete their review.
“As we prepare for the hearing, we request that plenary mandates NOCAL to send copies of both agreements to the Senate and halt any further engagements with and the activities of GeoPartners and Searcher pending the outcome of the Senate’s intervention,” the communication stated.
The senators stressed that the matter is not merely administrative but involves the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to ensure that Liberia’s natural resources are managed in accordance with the law.
“The Liberian Senate’s exercise of robust oversight in this matter is not merely appropriate, it is constitutionally required,” Konneh and Sogbie declared. “Liberia’s natural resources must be governed with transparency and in strict accordance with the law enacted by this body.”
The request is expected to place renewed focus on governance and regulatory accountability within Liberia’s emerging petroleum sector, particularly as the country seeks to attract international investment while maintaining confidence in the legal and institutional framework governing its natural resources.
Should the Senate proceed with the proposed inquiry, the hearings could provide critical clarity on the respective powers of LPRA and NOCAL and potentially shape the future direction of petroleum sector governance in Liberia.
