Bong County Senator Price Moye has hinted that the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) Political Leader, and Businessman Musa Hassan Bility risk jail sentence if he fails to remit rental fees owed to the Government of Liberia for the use of the China Union Petroleum Storage Facility, a development that could potentially land him behind bars.
According to Bong County Senator, citing provisions of Liberia’s National Revenue Code, any concession company that builds a storage facility at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) and subsequently leases it out is required to pay 10% of all revenue generated from that facility.
The China Union petroleum storage tanks, with a massive holding capacity of 5.28 million gallons, fall under this arrangement. Bility, who reportedly took control of the facility as its renter, is therefore legally obligated to pay the Government of Liberia 10% in rental fees. However, allegations indicate that since assuming control, he has not remitted a single payment.
Revenue estimates suggest that if the facility is utilized twice a month—holding more than 10.56 million gallons in total, the government’s 10% share could reach at least US$1.05 million annually. This has fueled speculation and public concern over where the money has gone.
Critics are now questioning whether Liberia’s rental share is being diverted to China Union or into private hands. The controversy has sparked renewed calls for accountability, with observers insisting that if Bility fails to honor his obligations, the government must pursue full legal action.
Analysts warn that how authorities handle this matter will serve as a litmus test for the administration’s commitment to transparency and the rule of law in managing state resources.
