The National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) convened a pivotal three-day Strategic Retreat in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County, in April 2025, marking a significant stride towards revitalizing Liberia’s energy sector. The retreat, themed “Building a Resilient Energy Sector: Strategy, Sustainability, and Success,” brought together key stakeholders, including energy leaders, policymakers, regulators like the LPRA, representatives from the Ministry of Lands and Mines, and international development partners like Conex-Liberia and Aminata. This collaborative effort aimed to align strategies, foster innovation, and chart a course for sustainable growth and development within Liberia’s hydrocarbon industry, aligning with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for national energy sector renewal and inclusive development.
NOCAL’s Acting President/CEO, Fabian Michael Lai, inaugurated the retreat with a powerful message, emphasizing the opportune moment for Liberia to transform its energy sector into an engine of equitable growth. The discussions centered around accelerating exploration activities, bolstering the entire oil and gas value chain, enhancing governance frameworks, and forging strategic partnerships with regional energy leaders like Nigeria and Ghana. The overarching goal was to establish a robust and resilient energy sector capable of driving economic progress and improving the lives of all Liberians.
Cllr. Gloria M. Scott, NOCAL’s Board Chairperson, reinforced this vision by stressing the importance of accountability and ensuring that the benefits derived from Liberia’s oil and gas resources directly impact the lives of its citizens. She emphasized the need for these resources to translate into tangible improvements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, moving beyond mere revenue generation. This focus on tangible benefits underscored a commitment to using the nation’s resources for the betterment of its people and building a foundation for sustainable development.
The retreat’s agenda covered a comprehensive range of critical priorities across the energy spectrum, from upstream exploration and midstream logistics to downstream distribution. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions aimed at boosting local capacity within the energy sector, expanding access to energy resources for all Liberians, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices. The emphasis on local capacity building reflects a commitment to empowering Liberian communities and ensuring that they benefit directly from the growth of the energy sector.
A key highlight of the retreat was the presentation of NOCAL’s revised internal policies by Vice President for Administration, Hon. M. Boakai Jaleiba, Jr. These revised policies, subsequently submitted for board review and approval, were designed to align with Liberia’s national energy roadmap and reinforce institutional accountability within NOCAL. This focus on aligning internal policies with the national roadmap demonstrates a commitment to strategic coherence and ensuring that NOCAL’s operations effectively contribute to the nation’s overall energy goals.
Further solidifying the retreat’s strategic focus, Hon. Rixck W. Barsi-Giah, NOCAL’s Vice President for Technical Services, delivered a comprehensive presentation on seismic data, reservoir mapping, and onshore survey operations. This presentation highlighted NOCAL’s commitment to leveraging data-driven decision-making and embracing technological innovation to optimize exploration and production activities. By incorporating advanced technologies and data analysis, NOCAL aims to enhance efficiency and maximize the value derived from its resources.
The culmination of the retreat saw the unveiling of NOCAL’s ambitious Five-Year Strategic Plan by the Acting President/CEO. This comprehensive blueprint, structured around seven key thematic areas, outlines specific targets for acquiring new geophysical and geological data, venturing into midstream and downstream services, and bolstering upstream exploration through expanded technical capabilities. The plan also articulates NOCAL’s commitment to local content development and community engagement.
Following the retreat, NOCAL’s leadership and Board of Directors undertook a site visit to the company’s two properties in Buchanan, spanning over 200 acres. This visit underscored the company’s long-term development goals and initiated discussions on how to best leverage these assets for national benefit. The site visit provided a tangible connection to the strategic discussions held during the retreat and reinforced the commitment to translating plans into concrete actions.
Representing President Boakai, Hon. Samuel Steve Stevquoah, Minister of State, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering support for NOCAL’s mission. He emphasized the importance of translating every barrel of oil produced into tangible improvements for the Liberian people, including improved roads, job creation, and enhanced healthcare facilities. The Minister’s statement reinforces the government’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of oil production are shared equitably and contribute to the overall development of the nation.
The primary objective of the retreat was to thoroughly review, refine, and finalize NOCAL’s five-year strategic and operational plan. With renewed purpose and a sense of shared commitment, NOCAL is now poised to move forward with a bold agenda aimed at transforming Liberia’s energy landscape. The outcomes of the 2025 Strategic Retreat are expected to play a defining role in shaping Liberia’s energy future, grounded in the principles of sustainability, innovation, and shared prosperity for all Liberians. The retreat’s success signifies a pivotal moment for Liberia’s energy sector, setting the stage for a future of growth and development driven by responsible resource management and a commitment to the well-being of its citizens.
