NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA –The House of Representatives has agreed with the Liberian Senate on a major bill to formally establish the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) as a statutory entity, advancing what lawmakers describe as a long-overdue reform in the country’s petroleum sector.
By: Sampson W Weah – sampsonwweah7@gmail.com
The legislation, introduced by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, is intended to place the LPRC on firm legal footing after decades of operating without a clear statutory mandate.
Although the House endorsed the Senate’s action, it raised several concerns and called for a bicameral conference committee to resolve outstanding issues before the bill is sent to the Executive Mansion for presidential approval.
The decision came during the closing sitting of the Special Session of the 55th Legislature, marking a significant step in what could become one of the most important governance reforms in Liberia’s downstream petroleum industry.
Lawmakers have long raised concerns about the legal status of the LPRC, which has operated since 1978 without an enabling statute. They argue that this gap has contributed to weak oversight, inefficiencies, and unclear lines of accountability. Senator Dillon described the measure as a historic correction.
“Many Liberians would be surprised that LPRC has operated for decades without a statutory basis. This is a necessary reform that will stand the test of time,” he told colleagues during debate.
The bill seeks to transition the LPRC from its current corporate structure into a fully established statutory body, with defined powers, responsibilities, and accountability standards.
A key feature of the proposed law is the introduction of tighter oversight. It grants the President authority to appoint the leadership of the LPRC, with those appointments subject to confirmation by the Senate—an effort aimed at improving transparency and public accountability.
The legislation also confronts longstanding concerns about the LPRC’s overlapping roles. At present, the entity regulates, licenses, and participates in the petroleum trade—an arrangement critics say creates unfair advantages and weakens competition.
Under the bill, a phased reform process is proposed to separate these functions over a five-year period.
“LPRC currently controls importation, storage, and sales. That level of concentration is problematic,” Dillon noted. “This law begins the process of correcting it.”
Attention now turns to the conference committee, which will reconcile differences between both chambers. Once a final version is agreed upon, the bill will be forwarded to the President for signing.
If enacted, the law is expected to reshape Liberia’s petroleum governance framework, boost investor confidence, and strengthen accountability in a sector critical to the country’s economy.
