Published: July 17, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberia’s costly and data-starved hunt for minerals, oil and gas could be shortened by satellite screening and artificial intelligence that rank drilling targets before ground crews ever deploy, technology firms and government officials said Wednesday at a one-day exhibition in Sinkor.
GeoMining and Environmental Consultancy Inc., in partnership with Intergeo Mineral Intelligence Liberia Inc., convened the forum under the theme “Unlocking Liberia’s Natural Resource Potential through Modern Exploration Technology, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships,” drawing government officials, investors, technical experts and young professionals.
Organizers said the event was designed to address Liberia’s longstanding challenge of limited geological data and high exploration costs. With deposits of iron ore, gold, diamonds and lithium, along with offshore oil and gas potential, speakers discussed how tools such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence and 3D mapping could help the country attract investment while protecting the environment.
GeoMining Executive Director Carlos Tingban Sr. opened the program by describing the gathering as historic for the extractive sector and stressing that technology must be matched with human capacity. He said his firm has trained up to 25 young Liberian professionals and is working with Intergeo to transfer knowledge, promote investment and advance geological work in the country.
“We are especially proud to have created important opportunities for up to 25 young Liberian professionals, reflecting our belief that developing our natural resources must also mean developing our people,” Tingban said.
He called for collaboration among government, investors, universities and companies to support innovation and responsible investment, saying the greatest value of resources lies in how wisely they are managed for current and future generations.
Speaking via Zoom, Geoffrey Wade, chief executive officer of Onirik, said the partnership with the Liberian firms is intended to help the country build a practical resource inventory quickly and attract equity investment.
“We firmly believe that our collaboration will form a lasting legacy. It will add tangible value to Liberia and drive sustainable growth for the great nation of Liberia,” Wade said.
He explained that the Mineral Finder and Oil and Gas Finder technologies being introduced are designed to reduce risk before expensive fieldwork begins, by screening large areas from satellites, ranking targets and focusing ground teams only on high-probability sites.
“The core idea is pretty simple. Screen large areas remotely, rank the targets before you do the expensive fuel deployment and then focus those fuel programs on the higher probability opportunities,” he said, adding that staged, evidence-led approaches can shorten exploration timelines.
Acting Mines and Energy Minister Eudora Blay-Pritchard welcomed the discussion on innovation, saying exploration has evolved rapidly and Liberia must remain open to new tools to strengthen institutions and improve resource management.
“Mineral finder technologies have jumped a lot in the last five years. Instead of just the boots, the hammer, and the lab work, exploration now mixes remote sensing, AI, robotics, and real-time sensors,” Blay-Pritchard said.
She encouraged participants to build networks and share ideas, thanking the organizers for convening the forum.
“I encourage attendees to take full advantage of today’s conference by engaging in the discussions, asking questions, exchanging ideas, and building valuable professional connections,” she added.
Timothy Kudar Jarry II, executive director for operations at the National Oil Company of Liberia, delivering remarks on behalf of President and CEO Fabian Michael Lai, said the exhibition represents a shift away from guesswork toward data-driven decision-making in the oil and gas sector.
“It means instead of drilling dozens of wells, exploratory wells, hoping to strike oil or gas, we can now pinpoint the most promising locations with remarkable accuracy,” Jarry said.
He added that new technology can help identify promising locations without widespread drilling or land disturbance, and that NOCAL is building a centralized digital geoscience data repository to improve negotiations and planning.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs Cllr. Jeddi Mowbray Armah, representing Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, said Liberia’s focus must move beyond what lies underground to how resources are converted into shared prosperity.
“The defining question for our future, however, is how effectively those resources are transformed into broad-based and lasting prosperity. Natural resources alone do not produce development,” Armah said.
He said the government’s Economic Diplomacy Framework will prioritize investment that builds skills and transfers technology, noting that Liberian diplomacy is now measured by the economic opportunities and partnerships it creates.
“Diplomacy today must serve as an instrument for attracting strategic investment, expanding trade, mobilizing development finance, facilitating technology transfer, and opening opportunities for Liberian enterprises,” he said.
Both NOCAL and the Foreign Ministry stressed that Liberia must combine its resource potential with strong institutions, transparency and local participation, urging investors to see the country as open for business on fair terms and calling on Liberians to prepare for opportunities in the sector.
Discussion about this post