Liberia's emerging hydrocarbon sector appears to be progressing amidst all the concerns of "when will commercial quantity be discovered? Is oil a blessing or curse?" Some of the progress is evident by the grand opening of Chevron's laydown yard on Wednesday just outside the Buchanan sea port in Grand Bassa County.

The laydown yard will be used by Chevron to mobilize equipment to and from the drill ship and will help minimized the transit time to the rig. It brings the prospect of having extra aspects of drilling operations to Liberia. This is expected to increase job opportunities for Liberians and lower the company's overall drilling costs.

Chevron Liberia Manager, Karl Cottrell said the laydown yard is more tangible and a representative of the company, as it explores hydrocarbons (oil and gas) offshore Liberia.

"Clearly, Chevron Liberia Limited has vested interest in the safe development of Liberia's energy resources and is providing an economic boost to Grand Bassa County. We are proud to say that the company is leading the way in the establishment of the key infrastructure for the industry while partnering with critical stakeholders to make meaningful changes to the lives of individuals that have the opportunity to touch," the Chevron Liberia boss assured.

The newly open laydown yard will be just a small component, but could be essential to oil supply-base in the future. Buchanan's economy stands the chance of growth once the sector flourishes. Chevron Liberia Manager predicts that if the business climate is right, competitive prices and good business practices are upheld, Buchanan will attract oil service companies to the country.

NOCAL boss, Dr. Rudolph McClain stressed that government and Chevron look forward to a win-win scenario, considering the company's need to safe time, money, and improve logistics while the country has a need to get an improved economy. But Dr. McClain is pretty much aware of the difficulties to achieve the 'win-win' and he described the way forward as a 'very tedious road'.

"Even the simple step leading to a laydown yard took some enormous time, as we look at this great first step to ensuring that enormous benefit to Liberians during the exploration, appraiser and the production stages of our oil program. This kind of facility will create the kind of job I talked about."

The NOCAL boss described the progress as a 'craw-step' but emphasized the importance of local content and participation in the country's potential oil and gas industrial before the first production is realized.

Said Dr. McClain: "With this facility and others soon to come, today many Liberians with the required skills can be assured of gaining employment. Liberians must greet this project with great excitement in anticipation that communities will benefit immensely, especially through the job creation for the youth population."

Lands, Mines and Energy Minister, Patrick Sandolo said Chevron's contract blazed the trail for many production share contracts the country needs. He considers the facility as a means of government maximizing benefits from the extractive industries. Min. Sandolo assured that the government is committed to ensuring that the Chevron facility becomes the offshore base that it expects to be.

Grand Bassa County Superintendent, Etweeda Cooper said Buchanan is now presented with Chevron's logistical and storage management toll (Laydown yard) which effectiveness and presence can be leverage and harness by Liberian entrepreneurs. Focusing on the impact of the oil sector on her county and people, Superintendent Copper mentioned the need to develop the human resource capacity of locals.

"We're talking about improving the GBBCC (county Community college) technical program, the LOIC program, where we begin to train people in acquiring technical skill."

"What we are looking at is the Liberian partners that will take part in the Liberian Hydrocarbon industries, some have already started to do so and I'm sure many will join in. The potential is enormous, the impact will affect not just Grand Bassa but there will be an over flow in other counties," said Madam Cooper.

Chevron's contractor, UMARCO hired 60 skilled and semi skilled workers and other subcontractors to construct the laydown yard. In March 2011, Chevron agreed to establish the laydown yard in Buchanan and construction began the next year but bad wet weather halted the process until the dry season of the same year.

Now that the facility is ready for use, both the government and Chevron see the progress as a bit of relief. For the government, this will create jobs for Liberians and signal a good chance of finding commercial quantity of oil which will massively impact the economy. On the other hand, Chevron will save cost and time as it carries out exploration. Before, it took about four days to transport materials from Takoradi, Ghana to drilling rig off the shore of Liberia, but now it will take about four hours.