Liberia: Sen. McGill Demands Full Disclosure on Oranto’s Offshore Oil Dealings, Questions LPRA and NOCAL Over Prequalification, Seismic Data Purchases

Monrovia – Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill has intensified scrutiny over the controversial offshore oil blocks currently before the Liberian Senate. McGill  has written to the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) demanding complete transparency on Oranto Petroleum’s involvement in the process.

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By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

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The requests, addressed separately to LPRA Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logon and NOCAL President & CEO Hon. Fabian Michael Lai, raise pointed questions about whether the Nigerian oil giant, Oranto Petroleum, met all legal and regulatory requirements before entering direct negotiations with the Government of Liberia.

In his letter to LPRA, Senator McGill cited the Petroleum Exploration and Production Reform Law, stressing that the law requires a clear, transparent, and fully documented prequalification process before negotiations for petroleum rights can begin. McGill said the Senate cannot responsibly ratify any Petroleum Sharing Contract (PSC) without confirming that the statutory prequalification procedures were strictly followed.

He requested LPRA to furnish a copy of the official prequalification guidelines, detailing technical, financial, legal, and corporate requirements; a full list of all companies prequalified by LPRA, including their status at the time negotiations began; all documents relating to Oranto’s prequalification, including its application, supporting documents, internal assessments, third-party evaluations, scoring sheets, due diligence findings, compliance reports, correspondence, and any waivers or special considerations granted.

McGill emphasized that given the “long-term national implications” of the offshore blocks under review, the Senate must be guided by “complete, accurate, and lawful documentation.”

In a separate letter to NOCAL, the Senator sought clarity on whether Oranto had fulfilled another key legal requirement: the purchase of seismic data related to the blocks in question. Sector regulations mandate that any company seeking petroleum acreage must obtain the relevant seismic data before negotiations.

McGill asked NOCAL to confirm whether Oranto purchased seismic data for the four blocks currently before the Senate; whether Oranto has purchased any seismic data for Liberian acreage at any time; proof of purchase, including dates, payment receipts, and descriptions of the data—if such transactions occurred, and a written confirmation if no seismic data purchase was made.

The Senator underscored that these records are vital to ensuring due diligence and compliance with the laws governing natural resource management.

McGill’s letters come amid growing public debate over transparency in the oil and gas sector and persistent concerns about the propriety of direct negotiations with petroleum companies seeking exploration rights in Liberia.

Both LPRA and NOCAL are yet to publicly respond to the Senator’s requests.

Senate’s scrutiny

McGill’s requests come as the Liberian Senate scrutinizes a submission from the Executive Branch seeking legislative approval for four offshore petroleum blocks believed to hold significant hydrocarbon potential.

The request includes a recommendation for Oranto Petroleum to enter direct negotiations for exploration rights—an action that has raised concerns among some lawmakers and industry stakeholders.

The Senate’s Committee on Hydrocarbon, Energy & Environment, chaired by Senator Edwin M. Snowe, has been holding reviews and hearings to verify whether the process adhered to the Petroleum Exploration and Production Reform Law and established prequalification procedures. At the center of the controversy is whether Oranto properly prequalified for direct negotiations and whether all statutory requirements—such as seismic data purchase, financial disclosure, and technical capability assessments—were fully met.

Questions have also emerged about the transparency of the LPRA’s prequalification process and the absence of publicly available information on the evaluation criteria used to shortlist companies for negotiations. Some senators have expressed discomfort with ratifying the blocks without seeing complete documentation, noting that past petroleum deals have exposed the country to legal, economic, and governance risks.

This heightened scrutiny follows years of stalled exploration efforts and Liberia’s attempt to revive investor confidence in the oil sector. The Senate’s current review is therefore seen as a critical test of the country’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process in managing its natural resources.

Also, the Margibi County Senator has formally written the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Hydrocarbon, Energy & Environment, Senator Edwin M. Snowe, demanding full access to key documents tied to the controversial review of four offshore petroleum blocks currently before the Liberian Senate for ratification.

In the communication dated November 25, 2025, Sen. McGill said the requested documents are vital to ensuring proper legislative oversight and verifying whether the processes leading to the selection of Oranto Petroleum for direct negotiations were lawful and transparent.

Addressing Sen. Snowe, McGill requested detailed records covering seismic data purchases and the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s (LPRA) prequalification procedures. He stressed that the Senate must rely on “complete, accurate, and lawful documentation, consistent with the Petroleum Exploration and Production Reform Law,” before reaching a final decision on the offshore blocks.

Among the documents sought are seismic Data Purchases: Confirmation from the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) on whether Oranto Liberia or Oranto Global purchased seismic data for any of the four blocks, including proof of payment or formal confirmation if no purchase was made prequalification Records: All LPRA documents relating to Oranto’s prequalification for direct negotiations, including, LPRA’s official prequalification guidelines; a list of all companies prequalified, including dates and validity status; and As records specific to Oranto—applications, evaluations, assessments, scoring sheets, correspondence, and any waivers or special considerations granted.

McGill said these disclosures are necessary to help the Senate conduct a credible review amid increasing public scrutiny of the petroleum sector. He noted that transparency at this stage is crucial for safeguarding national interest.

The communication was copied to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, signaling growing legislative concern over the process.

As the Senate continues deliberations on the petroleum blocks, McGill’s request is expected to intensify calls for clarity, accountability, and strict adherence to Liberia’s petroleum laws.