By Lincoln G. Peters
Liberian Senate, March 19, 2026: Several Liberian senators have raised concerns over the passage of the amended Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation (LPRC) Act, warning that it could negatively affect national development and future budgets.
The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, during an emergency session as part of efforts to clear its agenda before adjournment.
The bill was approved by voice vote rather than a recorded vote and will not be sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence—moves some senators say violate Senate procedures for critical legislation.
Lawmakers expressed alarm that the bill does not require LPRC to make mandatory contributions to the national budget or development programs.
They also questioned provisions that allow LPRC to engage in non-core activities, such as real estate and bond investments, as well as the inclusion of fixed petroleum storage fees in the law.
River Cess County Senator Wellington G. Smith argued that LPRC’s budget contributions remain discretionary, as they have been in the past, and urged the Senate to clearly define government revenue shares and contribution percentages in the Act.
Grand Bassa County Senator Gbehzohngar M. Findley objected to provisions permitting LPRC to invest in areas outside the petroleum downstream sector, saying such powers contradict the purpose of the bill and leave decisions over profits solely to the company’s board.
Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill called for clarification on storage fees set at five and nine cents, questioning whether the rates are fixed or adjustable based on economic conditions.
Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph proposed adding a clause requiring LPRC to allocate 10 percent of its profits to corporate social responsibility, noting that current public benefits from the corporation remain limited.
