The Director General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), Mr Brima Baluwa Koroma, has briefed Parliament's Committee on Trade and Industry on recent developments in Sierra Leone's downstream petroleum sector as part of the committee's oversight responsibilities.
During the engagement, Mr Koroma outlined the Authority's mandate under the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority Act, 2025, emphasising the NPRA's role in promoting a safe, competitive and efficient downstream petroleum industry while balancing the interests of consumers, industry operators and Government.
He assured Members of Parliament that petroleum products imported into Sierra Leone meet internationally recognised quality standards and disclosed that the Authority will engage the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on fuel quality and vehicle emissions as part of its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. He also noted that Sierra Leone's fuel quality standards currently exceed the ECOWAS regional benchmark by accommodating petroleum products with a sulphur content of 10 ppm.
The Director General further highlighted improvements in fuel price transparency through the Authority's access to independent international pricing data and commended Oil Marketing Companies for maintaining high-quality petroleum products in the local market.
On filling station regulation, Mr Koroma informed the committee that the NPRA continues to enforce the temporary moratorium on new filling station developments while reviewing applications to ensure full compliance with safety, environmental and planning standards. He called on Parliament to support public awareness efforts aimed at preventing the construction of filling stations near schools, hospitals, markets and other sensitive public facilities.
The engagement reaffirmed the NPRA's commitment to transparency, regulatory excellence and the continued development of a safe, efficient and sustainable downstream petroleum industry in Sierra Leone.
