House Clears Final Legislative Hurdle for Petroleum Refinery Company Bill

By Anthony Dahn

The House of Representatives has endorsed the Joint Conference Committee Report on the proposed legislation establishing the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company and introducing key reforms to the country’s petroleum regulatory framework.

The decision was reached during the House’s sitting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following the Committee’s successful reconciliation of differences between the versions of the bill previously passed by the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate.

Presenting its findings, the Joint Conference Committee concluded that the concerns raised by private petroleum terminal operators had been adequately addressed and remain protected under Articles 21 and 25 of the Liberian Constitution. According to the Committee, those constitutional provisions safeguard the sanctity of contracts and prohibit the enactment of retroactive laws that would invalidate existing agreements, licenses, or legitimate business interests.

In view of its findings, the Committee recommended that the House adopt the Senate-engrossed version of the bill without further amendments. Lawmakers subsequently voted in favor of the recommendation, paving the way for the legislation to complete the legislative process.

The approved bill will now be transmitted to the Executive Mansion, where President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to consider it for signing into law. If approved, the legislation will establish the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company while introducing reforms aimed at strengthening the governance and regulation of Liberia’s petroleum sector.