By: Saidu Jalloh
At the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the Director General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma, delivered a robust defense of recent petroleum sector reforms. He highlighted significant improvements while pushing back against what he described as “misinformation” and unfair public criticism.
Dr. Koroma contrasted the current state of the petroleum industry with the severe challenges it faced five years ago. At the time, national fuel reserves were critically low averaging just 7 to 10 days leading to widespread shortages, black-market activity, and long queues at filling stations.
Today, he said, the sector has reached a point of “stock balance stability,” boasting a daily storage capacity of 278,000 litres and efficient management of over 1.3 million litres of daily consumption.
Dr. Koroma noted that the petroleum sector now contributes more than 12% to Sierra Leone’s domestic revenue, with consistent year-on-year growth since 2018, despite global economic disruptions.
He highlighted strategic infrastructure investments in key districts, including Kenema, Bonthe, Kambia, and Port Loko. These developments have expanded national fuel storage capacity and improved accessibility.
He also referenced new regulatory measures: all licensed fuel importers are now required to maintain a minimum reserve of 25,000 metric tons, or face suspensionan enforcement empowered by revisions to the Petroleum Regulatory Act.
Dr. Koroma emphasized that the sector has become more competitive and inclusive. The number of licensed fuel importers has grown from three dominant players to over ten, including youth-led and indigenous businesses.
“We now monitor 10-meter pumps to ensure that if you pay for 10 litres, you receive 10 litres,” he said, underlining the NPRA’s commitment to fuel pump accuracy and consumer fairness.
Addressing public concerns about fluctuating pump prices, Dr. Koroma criticized what he called “misleading narratives” from certain media outlets and online commentators.
“When we do good work, some people twist half-information to stir confusion. They cause panic, but the data doesn’t lie,” he stated.
He clarified that retail fuel prices currently ranging from Le 26 to Le 28 per litre are shaped by global oil market trends, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and not determined solely by the NPRA.
While acknowledging persistent challenges such as reliance on fuel imports, outdated legislation, and infrastructure gaps, Dr. Koroma affirmed the agency’s dedication to sustained reform.
He concluded by calling for more informed public discourse: “Let us not use sentiment to disrupt a sector that is finally becoming accountable. The fuel market is responding to policy, not manipulation.” NPRA Boss added.