TotalEnergies secured four offshore exploration permits in Liberia for oil Blocks LB-6, LB-11, LB-17, and LB-29 on September 17, 2025. The company signed Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Agency under the 2024 Direct Negotiation Licensing Round. Covering approximately 12,700 square kilometers in the southern Liberia Basin, the licenses require an initial firm 3D seismic survey under the exploration work program. Additionally, the move marks a return of upstream exploration to Liberian waters after a long period of limited activity. TotalEnergies also says these blocks align with its strategy to explore in high-potential, deepwater basins for large-scale discoveries, and to do so with opportunities for lower-emission and cost-effective development.
TotalEnergies to Explore Four Offshore Oil Blocks in Liberia
Reported September 17, 2025 – TotalEnergies has signed production-sharing contracts (PSCs) with the Government of Liberia for four offshore oil blocks. These are LB-6, LB-11, LB-17, and LB-29. They cumulatively cover a total area of approximately 12,700 square kilometers off Liberia’s Atlantic margin.
The agreements, awarded under the 2024 Direct Negotiation Licensing Round managed by the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), marks a significant return of international oil majors to Liberia’s upstream sector. The National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) and key ministries, including Finance & Development Planning and Justice, also co-signed the contracts.
TotalEnergies to Explore Four Offshore Oil Blocks in Liberia: Contract Takeaways
Signature bonus: Approximately USD 16 million
Work program: Multi-year exploration campaign including seismic surveys and potential drilling
Local involvement: Provisions for Liberian workforce participation and capacity building
Environmental & social impact: Commitments to align with international ESG standards
Project Factsheet
Blocks Awarded: LB-6, LB-11, LB-17, LB-29
Total Area: 12,700 km²
Partners: LPRA, NOCAL, Government of Liberia
Focus: Seismic and exploratory wells
Why the Deal Matter
The new PSCs strengthen TotalEnergies’ offshore oil and gas portfolio in West Africa. It complements its positions in Nigeria’s deepwater Egina & Akpo fields, Côte d’Ivoire’s Baleine oil & gas development, and Angola’s Block 17.
This also aligns with the French-based company’s broader exploration quests across African countries, including its recently acquired offshore exploration permit in the Republic of Congo.
The move also comes as other oil magnates such as Eni and ExxonMobil restructure their portfolios in the Gulf of Guinea.
For the West African country, the deal reawakens offshore activities after nearly a decade. LPRA has also highlighted that the deal’s revenues will contribute to financial stability, while NOCAL aims to push for local training.
Additionally, while Liberia’s offshore oil exploration push is not directly tied to renewables, TotalEnergies’ carbon-free activities across Africa cannot be understated. The company has notable solar projects in South Africa and Nigeria, but it is always shrewdly advised to never have all eggs in one basket.
TotalEnergies securing four offshore exploration blocks in Liberia also shows the dual strategy of global oil magnates running some of the world’s largest oil rigs. This strategy centers on maintaining exposure to high-value hydrocarbon resources like oil and gas while investing aggressively in renewable assets globally.
