AfrOil: ExxonMobil aims to pre-qualify for direct talks on four Liberian blocks

The US super-major ExxonMobil is seeking to pre-qualify for direct contract negotiations on four adjacent offshore blocks in Liberia’s offshore zone, according to the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA).

LPRA reported on April 24 that ExxonMobil had recently expressed interest in Blocks LB-15, LB-16, LB-22 and LB-24, all located offshore in the Liberia basin. The agency said it was reviewing the US giant’s application and would invite ExxonMobil to negotiate production-sharing contracts (PSCs) for the blocks once the pre-qualification process was completed.

Liberia’s direct negotiation process comprises five phases, the first of which is pre-qualification, and potential investors must complete each phase before proceeding to the next one. LPRA indicated in a statement that it intended to notify ExxonMobil once it had wrapped up the current phase but did not say when this milestone might be reached.