Monrovia, Liberia – March 19, 2026 — The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) has concluded a high-level mission to Washington, D.C., where it secured key commitments for technical support aimed at strengthening Liberia’s petroleum governance framework ahead of its 2026 Direct Negotiation Licensing Round.
The delegation held a series of strategic meetings with international financial institutions and U.S. government agencies, focusing on improving fiscal systems, regulatory oversight, investor engagement, and infrastructure development in Liberia’s oil and gas sector.
At the International Monetary Fund (IMF), discussions centered on enhancing Liberia’s petroleum fiscal regime. Engagements with officials from the Fiscal Affairs Department explored potential technical assistance in hydrocarbon fiscal modeling and revenue management frameworks. Follow-up talks are expected to determine the scope and delivery of this support.
Meetings with the U.S. Department of Commerce, including its Commercial Law Development Program and the International Trade Administration, highlighted opportunities to strengthen Liberia’s legal and regulatory framework for petroleum exploration and production. The talks also emphasized boosting outreach to American investors ahead of the upcoming licensing round.At the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), discussions clarified financing tools available for potential petroleum infrastructure projects. LPRA officials indicated plans to connect the DFC with the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) to advance investment opportunities aligned with the company’s commercial mandate.
Further engagements with the U.S. Department of Energy focused on technical cooperation in upstream regulatory capacity. Key areas included petroleum data governance, licensing systems, and offshore health, safety, and environmental standards.
The delegation also met with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), where discussions explored the use of political risk insurance and credit enhancement tools to attract investment and reduce risk in Liberia’s petroleum sector.“These engagements have established clear pathways for technical cooperation and support,” said Marilyn T. Logan, Director General of the LPRA. “We will now translate these discussions into concrete actions that strengthen Liberia’s petroleum governance and investment readiness.”
The LPRA delegation was led by Logan and included Jacob Kabakole, Chairman of the LPRA Board; Sahr Johnny, Senior Economic Advisor to the President; and Kou Dorliae, a member of the Board. They were joined in Washington by Charles Allen, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Liberia.
The mission marks a significant step in Liberia’s efforts to enhance transparency, attract investment, and build a robust petroleum sector capable of supporting long-term economic growth.
