Thieves Set Fire to Leone Oil Pipeline in Freetown to Steal Fuel

The Consortium on Petroleum, a civil society organization, has raised urgent alarms over the security of Sierra Leone’s fuel infrastructure, revealing that thieves recently set fire to a pipeline belonging to Leone Oil in a brazen attempt to steal fuel.

Alphonso Manley, Chairman of the consortium, disclosed the incident during the government’s weekly press briefing in Freetown. According to Mr. Manley, the perpetrators deliberately ignited the pipeline to facilitate the illegal scooping of fuel, an act he cited as evidence that “oil investment facilities are under threat.”

Speaking on the broader risks facing the sector, Mr. Manley noted that a separate fire was deliberately set inside another oil company’s depot by a nearby resident. He expressed concern that these events undermine public safety and investor confidence, despite previous efforts to compensate residents living near the perimeter of such facilities to vacate the areas and prevent disasters.

The remarks came as Mr. Manley provided an update on the state of the petroleum sector, noting that while the government maintains a consultative pricing process—recently moderating pump prices from NLe 36 to NLe 32 per litre—external factors remain a significant challenge. He pointed to global supply chain disruptions and the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which he said threatens the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil vessels.

He also acknowledged progress in the sector, including increased fuel storage capacity—extending reserves from 7–10 days to a more robust level—and a transparent pricing formula established with support from the World Bank.

Also addressing the briefing, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, confirmed that the government had negotiated the current fuel prices with marketers and noted that Guinea has withdrawn the majority of its troops from the shared border.

Separately, Mr. Bah updated the press on cabinet conclusions from the past week, which included a review of the Public Procurement Act of 2016 and discussions on improving the conditions of service for judges.