..Warns Against Public Speculation
By Amos Harris
MONROVIA, LIBERIA — The National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) has officially confirmed it is conducting a detailed technical investigation into a reported hydrocarbon seep in Nevren Tan, Beon Town, Grand Bassa County.
The seep is located within the Roberts Bassa Basin, approximately 7.6 miles inland from the Atlantic coastline.
NOCAL disclosed that it has already deployed two field missions to the site. These missions were tasked with seep reconnaissance, surface geological assessments, and collecting preliminary baseline data. The Corporation stated its intervention was prompted by public reports and growing community interest surrounding the occurrence.
The Roberts Bassa Basin has long been considered a potentially promising zone for hydrocarbon deposits. Historical airborne gravity and magnetic surveys conducted in 2010 by Simba Energy, the sole onshore reconnaissance license holder at the time, had previously identified similar oil seep occurrences in the region, suggesting possible commercially viable deposits.
NOCAL confirmed that its geoscientists, in collaboration with technicians from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), conducted two days of rigorous fieldwork. This included: Soil sampling, Geological mapping, Desktop review of historical datasets and Structural analysis.
Preliminary assessments, the company said, indicate that the seep area in Nevren Tan is consistent with known geological signatures of the Roberts–Bassa Basin.
The collected samples have been sent for laboratory geochemical testing. This analysis will determine critical characteristics, including the API gravity (which classifies the fluid as sweet or sour) alongside biomarker profiling and diagnostic analysis to identify the fluid type, source rock features, and possible migration pathways.
NOCAL emphasized that no definitive conclusions will be made until the full scientific review is complete.
Amid rising public speculation and intense curiosity, the Corporation cautioned government officials, community leaders, media institutions, and public commentators against issuing unverified claims or drawing premature conclusions about the seep’s significance.
NOCAL warned that misinformation could compromise the integrity of ongoing scientific assessments and mislead the public on a matter of national importance.
“NOCAL remains committed to transparency,” a statement read. “A comprehensive, evidence-based update will be shared with the Liberian people once all technical evaluations are complete.”
The reported seep has generated widespread discussion across Grand Bassa County, with many residents hoping the discovery could signal future economic opportunities. For now, however, NOCAL insists that all interpretations must await final laboratory results.
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