The report also alleges that the oil company made unusual, large payments to senior government officials who authorized the 2013 deal. Dean was Head of the National Oil Company of Liberia during the first bid round in 2004. In addition to Oil Block 13, Cllr. Exxon knew that Block 13 was originally awarded through bribery and that its purchase of the oil block could enrich former officials who might have been behind BCP. The oil company was adamant that neither COPL nor Broadway/Peppercoast had the financial or technical capabilities to drill in Liberia’s off-shore deep waters.

Source: Front Page Africa April 01, 2018 23:15 UTC