Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production on the Liberian Continental Shelf: Liberia`s obligations under International and National Law to Protect the Marine Environment

Abstract

The objective of the study is to examine as to what extends Liberia is complying with her requirements through the practices of International Environmental Law to protect the marine environment from pollution as a consequence of hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities on Liberia`s continental shelf. This study go further on to see if Liberia`s National legislation transposes and operationalizes obligations Liberia has assumed under International Environmental Law (IEL), relating to upstream Petroleum Exploration and Exploitation Activities on the Continental Shelf of Liberia. This study has discovered that Liberia has made important efforts in targeting its International Environmental Law responsibility as demonstrated by the Liberian Petroleum Act of 2002 and as envisioned by the National Petroleum Policy of 2012 among others, for it offshore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities. One can see that Liberia is moving in the right direction. Nevertheless, the study observed that Liberia has much more to be done when it comes to complying with its International Law obligations for the exploration and exploitation of its hydrocarbon activities. In the final chapters of this study, recommendations are made that can be useful in Liberia`s effort.