By: Saidu Jalloh
The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma, addressed concerns and clarified speculations about fuel smuggling from Sierra Leone to Guinea during a press conference held at the British Council, Tower Hill, on January 16, 2024.
Contrary to earlier rumors, Dr. Koroma emphatically denied any fuel smuggling activities between Sierra Leone and Guinea during the holidays. He revealed that Guinea had approached Sierra Leone to store their petroleum products due to a tragic incident at their terminal in Conakry on December 18, 2023. The central district of Kaloum witnessed a devastating fire, resulting in loss of lives, destruction of properties, and the suspension of petroleum product supply to gas stations in Guinea.
Dr. Koroma clarified, “Guinea asked Sierra Leone to store for them their product, and Sierra Leone responded by accepting the request.” He explained that the first shipment comprised five thousand metric tons of petrol, followed by a second shipment of fourteen thousand metric tons. The CEO emphasized that the fuel in question belonged to Guinea, and Sierra Leone was merely facilitating storage on their behalf.
Highlighting the differences between the regulatory frameworks of the two countries, Dr. Koroma pointed out that Guinea’s Petroleum Regulatory Authority (PRA) directly purchases and distributes petroleum products, unlike Sierra Leone’s system. Under the international custom transit scheme, it was deemed appropriate for the products to transit through Sierra Leone before reaching Guinea. He added that Sierra Leone’s terminal would continue loading approximately 50 trucks daily for six months to facilitate this transit.
Dr. Koroma also provided insights into the PRA’s achievements over the past five years, noting increased public trust, transparency in sharing information about global prices and industry development, and the agency’s transition from resource constraints to a self-sustaining entity. He highlighted the growth in the number of gas stations from 208 in 2017-2018 to 415 by December last year, emphasizing a non-discriminatory policy.
In terms of sales and distribution, Dr. Koroma reported an increase from 409 million liters in 2018 to 523 million liters in 2023, with a daily consumption of 1.4 million liters. The agency has expanded infrastructure, including three petroleum jetties, increased human capital development, and established offices across the country.
In conclusion, Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma reassured the public that Sierra Leone had not engaged in any fuel smuggling activities and affirmed the agency’s commitment to transparency and efficient service delivery.