Former House Speaker Fonati Koffa, has declared firm opposition to the proposed offshores oil agreement between the Government of Liberia and Nigerian firm Atlas Oranto Petroleum. Koffa cited the company’s controversial history in Liberia’s oil sector as the basis for his resistance, referencing what he described as a “bad deal,”
He accused Atlas Oranto of lacking both the technical capacity and the ethical track record required for responsible resource development.
“I will oppose the Atlas Oranto Production Sharing Agreement,” Koffa stated. “Oranto, by its track record, does not mean well for Liberia. It lacks the capacity to carry out the activities for which it has been contracted.”
He alleged that the company’s previous contract for offshore Block LB-12 was marred by corruption and opacity. According to Koffa, the agreement had to be “cleaned” through a Canadian intermediary before it could be sold to Chevron.
“Oranto is a flipper — a company that avoids transparency and accountability. It will benefit only a few Liberians, whose names will never be disclosed,” he added.
Atlas Oranto Petroleum’s involvement in Liberia has long been a subject of scrutiny. Its earlier contract for Block LB-12 was criticized for alleged irregularities and operational shortcomings. The block was eventually transferred to Chevron after a restructuring process facilitated by a third party.
Koffa’s stance places him at odds with the current administration’s approach to natural resource governance, despite his alignment with the ruling coalition. While he has expressed support for other investment deals — including those involving TotalEnergies and HPX — his rejection of the Oranto agreement underscores a firm position on transparency and investor credibility.
