Liberia has launched its 2026 Offshore Direct Negotiation Licensing Round, offering 15 offshore blocks across the Liberia and Harper basins to attract exploration investment and advance its petroleum sector development.

According to a statement in South Africa on Thursday, the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority launched the round on Wednesday in Capetown. Energy Capital and Power organised the launch, alongside African Energy Week 2026 and African Mining Week.

Qualified companies are invited to negotiate offshore exploration opportunities, with submissions closing April 15, 2027.

The LPRA director-general Marilyn Logan called on investors to submit letters of intent and highlighted the potential for exploration success to shape the country’s petroleum industry, adding, “Our petroleum system works. Whichever company makes the first discovery will play a significant role in the history of our country.”

The statement said, “The licensing round comprises twelve blocks in the Liberia Basin – LB-1, LB-2, LB-3, LB-7, LB-12, LB-13, LB-14, LB-18, LB-19, LB-20, LB-21 and LB-23 – and three in the Harper Basin – LB-25, LB-28 and LB-33.

“The acreage targets Cretaceous structures, deepwater basin-floor fans and structural closures along Liberia’s Atlantic margin. The offering provides investors with opportunities to evaluate frontier exploration prospects in a region with established petroleum system indicators and potential for further discoveries.

“The round is supported by more than 80,000 km of seismic data, including over 50,000 line-km of 2D seismic and 31,000 km² of 3D surveys, alongside gravity, magnetic and well-log datasets.”

It stated that geophysical data company, TGS, has reprocessed 12,000 kilometers of 2D seismic using Pre-Stack Depth Migration, as well as 5,100 km² of 3D seismic data, to improve subsurface imaging and support prospect evaluation.

The managing director at ENARJI and former director of Business Development at TGS, Jason Robinson, said, “There’s a working petroleum system offshore Liberia. It’s been a prolific system across the margin and there are significant fan-plays that go out into the very deepwater.”

The company explained that under the direct negotiation framework, qualified companies can pursue individual blocks and negotiate proposed exploration programs with the LPRA. Applicants must demonstrate technical capability, financial strength and relevant offshore experience.

It said the process is governed by Liberia’s 2014 Petroleum Exploration and Production Act and its 2019 amendments, adding that the framework is designed to provide investors with a route to acreage access while maintaining qualification requirements and regulatory oversight.

It noted that fiscal terms and regulatory predictability were highlighted as important considerations for prospective investors.

LPRA deputy director-general for finance, Robert Sonkarlay, said the authority is prepared to accommodate changing market conditions and the needs of participating companies.

Mr Sonkarlay said, “Investors are not just looking to find attractive fiscal terms; they’re also looking for fiscal predictability. We can assure that our terms are flexible and benchmarked. We will ensure that our terms adapt to changing markets and the needs of interested participants.”

LPRA board member Kau Dorilae also stressed the importance of investor engagement and consistency in the country’s investment framework. She noted that prequalification remains valid for five years, allowing companies to establish eligibility before pursuing specific block opportunities.

Liberian president Joseph Nyuma Boakai reaffirmed the government’s support for the licensing round in a prerecorded address delivered during the launch.

Mr Boakai said, “Today, I assure you that the journey you are about to begin with Liberia through the LPRA carries the full support of the Liberian government and is guided by principles that this administration is dedicated to stand for.”

Preparations for the campaign included an investor day, which was held in Houston, United States on August 19, 2026, followed by the opening of pre-qualification on August 28.