STAND Opposes Oranto Oil Deal

MONROVIA-OCTOBER 27, 2025: In a release issued at the weekend, Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) expressed stern opposition to what it calls ‘reckless’ Production Sharing Contract recently signed between Atlas/Oranto Petroleum and the Boakai administration, through the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA).

STAND is teaming with WE THE PEOPLE Movement, organizers of the December 17 for the  “Lead or Leave’ protest.

The deal covers offshore oil blocks LB-15, LB-16, LB-22, and LB-24.

STAND calls the deal a brazen attack on Liberia’s sovereignty and a blatant abuse of public trust, as well as deliberate handover of the nation’s natural wealth to a private few, fearing that it threatens the country’s economic future and undermining the rights of all Liberians.

According to STAND, its investigation has uncovered that the deal valued at over one billion United States dollars was executed in secrecy, without competitive bidding, transparency, or public accountability.

The advocacy group argues that such deal represents a dangerous reversal in Liberia’s governance and natural resource management, and a blatant violation of both national and international law.

“STAND condemns this as a ruthless betrayal of the Liberian people, a shameless plunder by a cabal of corrupt political elites who continue to enrich themselves on the nation’s wealth while the masses languish in poverty,” the release signed Chairman Mulbah Morlu reads.

“The Atlas/Oranto agreement, secretly negotiated and reportedly signed in Paris, France, flagrantly violates multiple Liberian laws and international transparency standards,” it noted.

STAND also indicated that the Deal tramples on the principles of openness, accountability, and fair competition enshrined in the following frameworks, including Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 2019, which mandates open, competitive bidding and public disclosure of contracts, Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 2010, which requires transparent and competitive procurement processes, Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) Act of 2009, which demands publication of all natural resource contracts.

Other frameworks the Deal trample upon, according to STAND, are the Environmental Protection and Management Law of 2003, which obligates environmental and social impact assessments prior to any extractive operation, and Article 7 of the 1986 Constitution, which mandates that national resources be managed for the maximum benefit of the Liberian people.

“Beyond domestic violations, the deal also contravenes Liberia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Global Standard, both of which require transparency, competitive licensing, and public accountability in natural resource contracts,” STAND contends.

It accused the Boakai administration of compromising the rule of law, mortgaging the country’s future, and mocking Liberia’s commitment to good governance by “willfully ignoring these legal frameworks.”

It further argued that “This is not investment, but exploitation.”

The group expressed dismay over the fact that the government entered into this agreement despite Oranto Petroleum’s tainted history in Liberia.

It recalled how “Between 2004 and 2007, Oranto acquired oil blocks LB-11, LB-12, and LB-14 through bribery and opaque negotiations, later selling them to Chevron for more than US$200 million—without drilling a single well or delivering a single benefit to Liberia.”

It also alleged that this deal follows “the same path of corruption, deceit, and elite profiteering, designed to enrich a few well-connected individuals while robbing the Liberian people of their rightful inheritance.”

It said its research uncovers that Oranto Petroleum has no demonstrated financial or technical capacity to conduct deepwater exploration, which typically costs US$80–200 million per well.

Against these concerns, STAND calls on the National Legislature to immediately reject and cancel this illegitimate and unlawful contract in the interest of national sovereignty, transparency, and justice.

it also wants full publication of all existing and pending Production Sharing Contracts under the LEITI framework, open and competitive bidding process for all future oil blocks, in strict compliance with the Petroleum Act of 2019, and an independent investigation into all officials and entities involved in negotiating and approving this illegal deal, with full legal accountability.