The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) said it has begun technical assessments following reports of an oily substance in Beon’s Town, Grand Bassa County, and warned the public against drawing premature conclusions.
In a statement, the LPRA cited the Petroleum Exploration and Production Law of 2016, which sets out protocols for reporting suspected hydrocarbons and requires that findings be reviewed and validated before public release.
The regulator said it initiated field assessments on Dec. 3 and has provided initial updates to relevant stakeholders and the Office of the President. The LPRA said it will publish a consolidated technical report and an official public statement once evaluations are complete.
The statement also urged residents to avoid contact with the substance until analyses are finalized and stressed the importance of “cautious, evidence-based communication” consistent with statutory procedures and industry best practice.
The announcement is likely to attract attention from investors and energy-sector observers given Liberia’s efforts to develop its oil and gas potential under the 2016 law.
Accurate, timely confirmation of any hydrocarbon discovery — or its absence will be critical for market confidence and for managing any potential environmental and community impacts.
