Liberian Government Concludes Oil Consultation

The Liberian government has concluded the nationwide oil consultation with Deputy Speaker Hans Barchue on the Draft Petroleum Law of Liberia. The consultation was a collective effort by oil experts, members of the public, government officials and lawmakers in an effort to ensure that the law would be in the best interest of the state.

According to All Africa, “Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Speakers Barchue said that the consultation was healthy due to the fact that every Liberian was willing to make his or her contribution to the exercise. He said in Monrovia over the weekend, that the views of Liberians and experts will be taken into consideration to form part of the bill that is currently before the House. Last year, members of the 53rd Legislature embarked on a nationwide consultative tour intended to take the National Petroleum reform law to ordinary Liberians after it was passed by the Senate.”

The process included input from all sides with lawmakers having visited all fifteen counties to hear the concerns and opinions of their citizens on the emerging oil industry. Although there was an announcement to hold a national consultative forum at the end of the fifteen county visit there was a surprise six-day roundtable consultative forum that started on Monday with poor attendance.

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