CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — The Liberian House of Representatives has approved a series of high-profile oil and mining agreements, including deals with Ivanhoe/HPX, TotalEnergies, and the controversial Oranto Oil, sparking criticism from some lawmakers who questioned the rationale and transparency behind the combined vote.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County, a vocal critic, said he opposed the Oranto Oil component, despite supporting the TotalEnergies Bill. “I would have supported the Total Energy Bill if it had been brought separately,” Bility explained. “However, with no justification given and without logic, it was brought as an omnibus bill, bundled with the Oranto deal, which constrained me to vote against the combined instrument.”

Bility warned that combining less popular bills with widely supported legislation is a common strategy used to secure approval of controversial measures. “One can safely assume that with the pushback against the Oranto deal from so many, the proponents knew that it had a high possibility of being rejected if submitted as a stand-alone instrument,” he said.

While the omnibus package passed, Bility maintained his opposition to the Oranto deal, citing concerns over the company’s approach. “It has no clear plan for exploration, and Oranto’s business model is simply to acquire our asset and flip it for profit,” he added.

Despite weeks of objections from influential lawmakers, 27 members of the House voted for the passage with four against and one abstention to approve PSCs signed with TotalEnergies EP Liberia LLC and Oranto Petroleum Liberia Limited. The approval followed a report from the Joint Committee on Hydrocarbon, Concession and Judiciary that recommended periodic five-year reviews but otherwise endorsed the deals.

But the legislative outcome only scratches the surface of a deeper political struggle that has been simmering for months.

The controversy erupted in late October when Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, the immediate former Speaker and Grand Kru County District #2, who publicly dissected the Oranto contract in a blistering legal breakdown.

His posts, shared widely on social media and reported also by this paper, claimed that key provisions violated Liberia’s 2019 Petroleum Law, particularly its requirement for a combined 15% Liberian equity stake through citizens and NOCAL.

Koffa’s critique did more than question the contract—it challenged the credibility of the administration’s negotiation process.

His intervention energized other skeptics, including Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh, who had earlier issued his own sweeping statement questioning Oranto’s financial capacity and corporate track record.

But on the heel of all these controversies, the House relentlessly voted to pass on the instrument and subsequently forwarded it to the Liberian Senate for possible concurrence when deemed necessary.

Atlas/Oranto Petroleum Liberia Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian-linked Oranto Petroleum group, signed PSCs for four offshore blocks — LB-15, LB-16, LB-22, and LB-24 — which include signature bonuses and commitments to undertake exploration activities.

Background & Controversy

Oranto previously held Liberia oil blocks but transferred them to Chevron without drilling, raising concerns about the company’s capacity, tax compliance, and overall track record. Critics have also questioned the transparency and terms of the new agreements.

The deal has sparked public debate, with growing calls for greater transparency and assurances that the agreements will deliver meaningful benefits to Liberia.

TotalEnergies Oil Deal

TotalEnergies, a major global energy company headquartered in France, signed four Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for offshore exploration blocks LB-6, LB-11, LB-17, and LB-29 in the Liberian Basin. These contracts were awarded under the 2024 Direct Negotiation Licensing Round.

The agreements aim to revive exploration activities in Liberia’s deepwater basins through seismic surveys and the potential drilling of wells. TotalEnergies brings significant technical expertise and investment strength, marking the first major international upstream engagement in Liberia in more than a decade.

The deal is viewed as a major step toward revitalizing Liberia’s dormant oil sector, attracting foreign investment, and strengthening local content participation and environmental safeguards.

It can be recalled that President Boakai submitted the agreements on October 21, requesting legislative concurrence on eight new offshore PSCs with the two foreign companies.

Upon submission, the document was sent to the relevant committee for scrutiny, and hence, following weeks of review, the committee presented its report to the Plenary of the House.

The Ivanhoe deal

Like the Oranto deal, the passage of the Ivanhoe agreement was not void of drama. Despite conflicting testimonies by ministries with relevant authorities, the controversial Concession and Access Agreement (CAA) between the Government of Liberia, Société des Mines de Fer de Guinée (SMFG), and Ivanhoe Liberia Limited was ratified by the House of Representatives.  

Prior to the passage, top United States Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), raised alarms over the multibillion-dollar rail corridor, cautioning that U.S. government support for the project could “unwittingly strengthen Beijing’s global mineral chokehold.”

In a letter sent Tuesday to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Moolenaar questioned the State Department’s favorable posture toward Ivanhoe Atlantic.

Moolenaar argued that Ivanhoe’s ownership structure includes major stakes held by Chinese state-linked companies, posing what he described as “serious geostrategic risks” at a time when Washington is attempting to reduce dependence on Beijing for global minerals.

 Not only the US lawmaker expressed dissatisfaction over the deal. Back home in Liberia, Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. has openly rejected current form of the deal. In a statement, he said his office completed a comprehensive review of the Ivanhoe concession—alongside the ORANTO Petroleum agreement and a pending ArcelorMittal arrangement—and found the Ivanhoe deal scored just 77% compliance, far below his 85% threshold for approval.

He cited multiple concerns, including paving the Nimba–Guinea haulage corridor. Twayen insists the route must be fully paved, not left as dusty laterite. He warned that Liberia should not be held liable to repay the company’s US$37 million advanced payment.

He demanded a clear, jointly agreed governance framework involving Liberia, Ivanhoe, and ArcelorMittal, and a stricter oversight of the community Development Fund (CDF); insisting the fund remain under direct government and community control.

Despite these warnings, the House of Representatives, sitting on the 18^th day of its second session of the third quarter on Thursday, December 11, members voted to pass on the agreement – ignoring all of the different stifles during the hearing process of the concession.

 The House’s decision followed the submission of a comprehensive report by the Joint Committee of the House on Concession and Investment.

The CAA, dated July 5, 2025, sets the framework for significant infrastructure development and regional cooperation centered on iron ore transportation.

The Joint Committee conducted a thorough review of the agreement, consulting with members of the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) and analyzing its potential economic and infrastructural impacts on Liberia.

What’s in the agreement?

The agreement grants SMFG and Ivanhoe a 25-year concession to transport iron ore from Guinea through Liberia, utilizing existing railway infrastructure and expanding it as needed.

The iron ore will be exported via Liberian rail to the Port of Buchanan with the hope of enhancing increased shipping volumes, including upgrades to the Buchanan Commercial Quay.

Excerpt of the agreement: “The financial implications are substantial, with an estimated investment of nearly US$1 billion in infrastructure. Initial payments include a US$1 million fee due shortly after signing, followed by escalating payments over the early years of operation, as well as ongoing royalties based on iron ore tonnage shipped.”

CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – A Senate public hearing aimed at scrutinizing two new petroleum agreements submitted by the Executive Branch has raised fresh concerns over Liberia’s dealings in the oil sector—specifically, the lack of clarity surrounding Oranto Petroleum’s past operations, tax obligations, and the true value Liberia earned when the company flipped its oil blocks to Chevron more than a decade ago.

By Obediah Johnson and Gerald C. Koinyeneh

Lawmakers questioned how oil blocks previously leased to Nigerian businessman Prince Arthur Eze for a reported US$250,000 were later flipped to Chevron for over US$200 million—with little to no benefit to the Liberian people. Despite that troubled history, Oranto has again been selected—alongside TotalEnergies—to operate eight offshore blocks.

Dillon: “Where Is Oranto Even Located?”

During the tense hearing, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon expressed shock that government representatives could not immediately identify the physical headquarters of Oranto Petroleum Liberia Limited.

“So the GOL is dealing with an entity and nobody from the GOL representing them seems to know where Oranto is headquartered in Liberia?” Dillon asked.

Madam Marilyn Logan, Director General of the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), responded that the company was located in Sinkor and had been registered in Liberia in 2008, again in 2011, and most recently renewed on September 16, 2025.

But Dillon raised red flags over the timing of the latest renewal, noting that the registration was done after the concession agreement had already been submitted to the Legislature for ratification.

“I will be inquiring about Oranto’s business registration annually from 2008 to determine whether they have existed and operated in Liberia—including tax clearances,” he vowed.

Dillon also criticized LPRA for sending lawmakers unsigned copies of the Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), noting the absence of President Joseph Boakai’s signature. Logan and Senator Edwin Snowe clarified that some copies contained the required signatures, prompting the committee to order LPRA to correct the errors and distribute proper copies.

Questions Over Taxes, Missing Data

The hearing failed to establish whether Oranto paid taxes during its previous stint in Liberia. Witnesses also struggled to confirm how long TotalEnergies and Oranto have operated in other jurisdictions, requesting more time to present documentation.

Senator Snowe expressed frustration

“We are reviewing massive petroleum agreements, yet the witnesses did not bring the actual documents the government signed.”

Bomi County Senator Alex Tyler added that the witnesses appeared “ill-prepared to proceed with the hearing.”

‘Oranto Made No Profit From Flipping Blocks’

NOCAL CEO Fabian Laj (Lai) defended Oranto’s capacity, describing it as an independent oil and gas exploration company with producing wells in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria.

He confirmed that Oranto acquired three blocks in Liberia between 2007–2010 and later farmed out 70% to Chevron—but denied knowledge of the company receiving any significant payout.

“No, I am not aware of that; they farmed out,” Laj said.

He stated that Chevron only paid for certain data acquisition costs.

However, Laj also disclosed that Oranto may have spent up to US$80 million in Liberia between 2008 and 2010, including surface rental payments, social contributions, training funds, and seismic data acquisition.

Lawmakers remained unconvinced, citing years of unanswered questions about Oranto’s real financial dealings.

LPRA Defends New Deals

LPRA boss Marilyn Logan provided a detailed breakdown of the new PSCs, noting TotalEnergies EP Liberia covers Blocks LB-06, LB-11, LB-17, LB-2 and Oranto Petroleum Liberia Ltd.: Blocks LB-15, LB-16, LB-22, LB-24.

She argued the agreements guarantee Liberia substantial earnings even without commercial oil discovery, including US$27 million in signature and milestone bonuses, US$14.6 million in surface rentals during exploration, US$20 million in management fees over 10 years, US$1.6 million annually for training, US$1.4 million annually for social contributions, US$4 million for a hydrocarbon development fund and Customs lump-sum payments of US$300,000.

She emphasized strong local content requirements, including preferences for Liberian businesses whose prices do not exceed foreign bids by more than 10%.

“These agreements provide a responsible, transparent, and economically sound pathway for restarting Liberia’s oil and gas industry,” Madam Logan stated.

She added that the global environment for exploration had become highly competitive, and Liberia needed flexible fiscal terms to attract companies back into its frontier basin.

Konneh Raises Red Flags

Though absent due to medical leave, Senator Amara M. Konneh—Chairman of the Public Accounts and Expenditure Committee—submitted a memorandum questioning the deals’ credibility and economic value.

In a memo addressed to Senator Edwin M. Snowe, Chairman of the Joint Senate Committee reviewing the PSCs, Sen. Konneh delivered a pointed list of questions and warnings he hopes will guide the hearing toward “a deep and informative discussion to ensure Liberia reaps optimal benefit from these deals.” Sen. Konneh sharply criticized the US$1.2 million signing bonus offered by Oranto Petroleum for four offshore oil blocks—LB-15, LB-16, LB-22, and LB-24—amounting to just US$300,000 per block.

“That is barely enough to build one modern, well-equipped hospital to serve the counties adjacent to these oil blocks,” he wrote, noting that Ghana demands up to US$20 million for deep-water signing bonuses, funding massive national developments “like entire airport cities.” Konneh questioned the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning’s acceptance of what he termed “lousy fiscal terms.”

He pressed the executive officials to explain what metric was used to determine competitiveness and value for Liberia, why the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) accepted such low returns from a company with questionable history, and where was the Justice Minister during negotiations, and who protected Liberia’s interest? “Oranto Has No Credibility” — Past Failures in Liberia and Africa Cited Sen.

Konneh strongly opposed Oranto’s return, recalling the company’s failure to drill a single well after receiving oil blocks in Liberia in 2007. Instead, the company flipped the blocks to Chevron, reportedly profiting over US$100 million while Liberia “received almost nothing.”

He referenced similar patterns in several African countries—Uganda, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea—where oil blocks awarded to Oranto and its sister company, Atlas Petroleum, remain undeveloped. Konneh asked the committee to explain which international benchmarks were used to vet Oranto, why multiple African nations have distanced themselves from the company and what evidence shows Oranto can drill this time or protect Liberian interests?

Sen. Konneh reminded the committee that beginning 2011, the Liberian government funded scholarships to train engineers, lawyers, and petroleum specialists to handle complex oil negotiations—expertise he says is not being utilized.

He called for the incorporation of these experts into negotiations and PSC reviews, database of trained Liberians and relevant local companies, evidence from LPRA and NOCAL that such databases exist and a full report from NOCAL detailing all scholarships awarded, how beneficiaries are now contributing, and how the program will be strengthened. According to him, tapping these professionals is essential to enforce Article 13 of the PSC, which prioritizes hiring and procurement opportunities for Liberians.

Sen. Konneh proposed expanding citizen participation beyond a few local oil and gas companies. He called for the adoption of models where citizen-owned companies buy equity shares in oil blocks, hybrid approaches that allow the public to acquire shares through the market while companies retain majority stakes He argued that such models could broaden economic opportunities and spread wealth beyond concession fees.

Senators Want Hearing Rescheduled

Throughout the session, senators repeatedly expressed frustration at the unpreparedness of witnesses.

Sen. Snowe announced that the committee will summon the Ministry of Finance, Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) AND Other relevant agencies to clarify unanswered questions, including allegations that Oranto previously abandoned staff in Liberia.