Arthur Eze Secures Major Oil Blocks in Liberia, Expands Global Energy Footprint

Prince Arthur Eze, billionaire oil magnate and founder of Atlas Oranto Petroleum Limited, has expanded his business footprint in Africa with the acquisition of four offshore exploration blocks in Liberia. The move highlights Eze’s strategic approach to the oil and gas value chain and reinforces his reputation as a shrewd leader with a pragmatic business philosophy that has kept him competitive since he began his journey in 1991.

The newly secured blocks—LB-15, LB-16, LB-22, and LB-24—were awarded through production sharing contracts signed in Paris between Atlas Oranto and the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Sources close to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai confirmed the agreements are fully binding and include a $12 million signature bonus. The contracts also carry an estimated $200 million in planned investments per block, a development expected to inject fresh capital and expertise into Liberia’s oil and gas sector, which has seen little activity for more than a decade.

The acquisition comes at a time when international energy companies are refocusing on Liberia’s offshore resources. TotalEnergies earlier this year secured four blocks, while ExxonMobil re-entered the country in 2023. With Atlas Oranto’s entry, Liberia’s energy sector is set for renewed momentum that could significantly shape its economic outlook.

Eze’s company now operates in 22 countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, South Sudan, São Tomé and Príncipe, Uganda, and Zambia. In August 2024, the group expanded beyond Africa with a landmark deal in Venezuela, signed in collaboration with Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea and witnessed by President Nicolás Maduro. That agreement marked Atlas Oranto’s entry into the South American oil market and underscored Eze’s global ambitions.

By leveraging decades of industry experience and a bold expansion strategy, Arthur Eze continues to solidify his influence across continents while positioning Atlas Oranto Petroleum as a significant player in the evolving global energy landscape.