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The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has assured the public of a stable national fuel supply, announcing that Sierra Leone currently holds 45 days of petrol stock and 58 days of diesel stock.
Speaking at the Government Weekly Press Conference hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) on Tuesday at the Miatta Civic Center, NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma provided an update on the country’s energy sector amid ongoing global market volatility.
Koroma highlighted that global factors, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Gulf, continue to drastically impact international fuel prices. According to the Director General, the cost of petrol has increased by 78.9%, diesel by 100.72%, and jet fuel by 102%.
To cushion the severe economic impact on citizens, Koroma stated that the government is now providing a monthly subsidy of $2.6 million. This marks a notable increase from the estimated $2 million monthly subsidy the NPRA reported in late April.
Additionally, Koroma emphasized that the regulatory body is in continuous engagement with fuel importers to ensure the full financial burden of these international price shocks is not directly transferred to local consumers.
Tuesday’s briefing comes amid heightened public scrutiny over the cost of fuel and its cascading effect on transportation fares, essential goods, and the overall cost of living in Sierra Leone.
In recent weeks, consumer advocacy groups and civil society activists have heavily criticized the NPRA’s pricing mechanisms. Critics, such as Edmond Abu of the Native Consortium, have publicly accused the regulator of acting swiftly to increase local pump prices during global crises, while failing to provide corresponding reductions when international oil indices drop.
The current government subsidies aim to stabilize pump prices—which were adjusted in early April to SLE 35 for petrol and SLE 40 for diesel—protecting households and small businesses from absorbing the actual, much higher market costs.
