Либерия вошла в состав Африканского форума нефтегазовых регуляторов для укрепления контроля над нефтяной отраслью

Liberia has taken a major step toward strengthening oversight of its emerging petroleum industry with the induction of the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) into the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF), giving the country a seat at a continental table shaping the future of Africa’s oil and gas sector. The membership comes at a critical time for Liberia, as the country manages eight active Production Sharing Contracts and prepares to launch its 2026 Direct Negotiation Petroleum Licensing Round in the fourth quarter of the year. The continental forum brings petroleum regulators from across Africa together to promote a safer, more efficient, equitable and sustainable petroleum industry while strengthening the capacity of national regulators to effectively manage the continent’s natural resources. For Liberia, the LPRA’s entry into AFRIPERF is expected to provide access to regulatory expertise, technical knowledge and institutional partnerships at a time when the country is seeking to expand petroleum exploration and attract new investment. AFRIPERF was established to help close the gap between Africa’s vast petroleum resources and the capacity of governments and regulators to effectively manage them. Member countries are working to harmonize regulatory standards, strengthen safety and environmental requirements, share technology and expertise, and build institutional capacity through training and professional exchanges. The forum also provides its members with a platform to jointly advance Africa’s interests in global energy policy discussions. LPRA Director General Marilyn Logan said Liberia’s participation will be particularly important as the Authority develops the technical capacity needed to oversee an increasingly active offshore petroleum sector. “Regulating an active offshore program is a technical business, and the fastest way to build that competence is to sit in the room with regulators who have already done it,” Logan said. She said the induction is part of the LPRA’s broader strategy of developing bilateral and multilateral partnerships to strengthen the Authority’s technical and institutional capacity as Liberia manages its growing petroleum portfolio and seeks to attract additional operators. AFRIPERF was established in Accra, Ghana, on September 18, 2025, when regulators from 16 African countries met, with eight countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, The Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea and Togo—signing the Forum’s Charter. Liberia’s membership now places the LPRA alongside petroleum regulators from across the continent, giving the Authority an opportunity to draw directly from the experiences of countries with more established oil and gas industries. As an AFRIPERF member, the LPRA will participate in technical working groups, training programs and experience-sharing platforms. The Authority is also expected to use the knowledge and expertise gained through the forum to strengthen its oversight of Liberia’s hydrocarbon sector. The LPRA plans to align Liberia’s regulatory framework with continental standards covering safety, environmental protection and transparency, with those standards expected to inform preparations for the 2026 licensing round. The development comes as Liberia seeks to position itself as an attractive destination for responsible petroleum investment while ensuring that the exploitation of its hydrocarbon resources does not come at the expense of environmental protection, transparency or the interests of future generations. For the LPRA, the challenge is no longer simply attracting companies to explore Liberia’s offshore potential. It is building the regulatory strength required to ensure that any petroleum development is properly governed and that the benefits of the sector ultimately reach the Liberian people. The Authority said its membership in AFRIPERF reinforces its commitment to the responsible development, regulation and management of Liberia’s petroleum resources for the benefit of all Liberians.