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NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma has briefed Parliament’s Committee on Trade and Industry on recent developments in Sierra Leone’s downstream petroleum sector following the committee’s oversight summons of the NPRA and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
Koroma outlined the NPRA’s mandate under the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority Act, 2025, emphasizing its role in regulating a safe, competitive, and efficient petroleum industry while balancing the interests of consumers, industry operators, and the Government through fair fuel pricing, investment promotion, and revenue generation.
Addressing concerns over fuel quality, he assured Parliament that petroleum products imported into Sierra Leone meet international standards and revealed that the NPRA will engage the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in August on fuel quality and vehicle emissions, with parliamentary representatives invited to participate.
He noted that while ECOWAS has adopted a 50 ppm sulphur standard, Sierra Leone’s fuel pricing framework supports the importation of cleaner 10 ppm sulphur fuel, surpassing the regional requirement.
Koroma also credited the Ministry of Finance for securing a Platts subscription in 2020, which has improved transparency and independence in fuel price determination, and commended Oil Marketing Companies for maintaining high-quality petroleum products.
On fuel station regulation, he disclosed that the NPRA has maintained a moratorium on new filling stations since March pending a review of applications to ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards.
He also urged MPs to help raise public awareness about the risks of constructing filling stations near schools, hospitals, markets, and other public facilities.
