National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ECOWAS Commission, has concluded a two-day national workshop aimed at supporting the implementation of regional cleaner fuel and vehicle standards in Sierra Leone.
Held at the Atlantic Hotel, Lumley, Freetown on Tuesday 4th August 2026, the workshop focused on promoting the adoption of higher-quality fuels and cleaner vehicle technologies to protect public health, safeguard the environment, strengthen regional energy security, and support a more integrated hydrocarbon market across the ECOWAS region.
In September 2020, the ECOWAS Council of Ministers adopted two key directives to harmonize automotive fuel specifications and vehicle emission standards among member states. The directives provide a regional framework for reducing harmful emissions and improving fuel quality standards.
Delivering the keynote address, NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma described the initiative as a collective and multi-sectoral effort that will drive sustainable reforms in Sierra Leone and the wider ECOWAS region. He noted that air pollution from vehicle emissions and the use of substandard fuels remain major environmental and public health concerns.
Koroma explained that the NPRA has already taken steps to align Sierra Leone’s petroleum sector with regional and international fuel quality standards. He noted that although the country’s current fuel specification remains at 1,000 parts per million (ppm), the petroleum pricing formula currently operates at 10 ppm, which is below the ECOWAS target of 50 ppm.
He added that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were invited to participate in the workshop to ensure that industry players are adequately informed and prepared to comply with the new standards. He further disclosed that the Authority is working to domesticate the ECOWAS directives by incorporating the required fuel specifications into its licensing framework from 2027.
The NPRA Director General emphasised that successful implementation of the directives will require strong collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), regional partners, petroleum companies, transport unions, vehicle dealers, civil society organisations, and the media through continuous engagement and public awareness campaigns.
“We must be candid about the work that lies ahead in domesticating these directives. This will require collaboration between the NPRA, MDAs, and regional stakeholders. It will also require constructive engagement with Oil Marketing Companies, drivers’ unions, vehicle dealers, as well as massive public sensitisation through civil society organisations and the media,” Koroma stated.
In her presentation, the UNEP representative, Madam Jane Akumu, highlighted the importance of transitioning to cleaner fuels and vehicles, describing it as essential for improving public health, protecting the environment, addressing climate change, and promoting sustainable economic development.
She explained that the use of low-sulphur fuels and modern vehicle technologies helps reduce harmful emissions linked to respiratory illnesses, heart diseases, stroke, lung cancer, and premature deaths. According to her, cleaner fuels also allow advanced emission-control technologies to function effectively, resulting in improved air quality, particularly in urban areas.
Akumu noted that while reducing sulphur content does not directly lower carbon dioxide emissions, cleaner fuels support the introduction of fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles, helping countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. She reaffirmed UNEP’s commitment to working with governments and regional institutions, including ECOWAS, to promote cleaner transport systems and stronger environmental protection measures across Africa.
Representing the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Yao Barnard Koffi reaffirmed the regional body’s commitment to implementing Directives C/DIR.1/9/2020 on harmonized automotive fuel specifications and C/DIR.2/9/2020 on vehicle emission standards, both adopted by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in September 2020.
He stressed that effective implementation of the directives requires member states to strengthen national legislation, enhance regulatory oversight, and enforce fuel quality and vehicle emission standards through coordinated efforts involving governments, petroleum regulators, transport stakeholders, civil society organizations, and development partners.
Koffi noted that the implementation of the cleaner fuels and vehicles roadmap will contribute to sustainable economic growth and support the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Good Health and Well-being, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action.
The workshop concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders to work together in advancing cleaner energy solutions, reducing transport-related pollution, and promoting a healthier and more sustainable environment for Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS region.