By: Usman Fambuleh
The Government of Sierra Leone has assured citizens that the country currently has sufficient fuel reserves to meet national demand despite the recent surge in global oil prices.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education in Freetown, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alpha Sesay, disclosed that Sierra Leone has 54 days of petrol and 43 days of diesel currently in stock.
According to the minister, the available fuel supply will allow the country to continue normal economic and transportation activities while the government works with stakeholders to replenish stocks.
Sesay explained that Sierra Leone consumes an estimated 1.5 million litres of fuel daily, making it essential for the government to constantly monitor reserves and ensure steady supply across the country.
“Currently, we have enough petrol for around 54 days and diesel for about 43 days while we continue efforts to restock,” he said. “This provides some level of assurance that the country will not experience an immediate shortage despite the global market challenges.”
The minister attributed the recent rise in pump prices to ongoing tensions and conflict in the Middle East, which have disrupted international oil markets and triggered a spike in crude oil prices globally.
He revealed that the price of a barrel of oil recently climbed to 120 US dollars, marking one of the highest increases recorded in recent months. However, he noted that the price has since dropped to about 93 US dollars, though it remains higher than previous levels.
“This is a global shock that we will overcome,” Sesay stated. “Even though we were not fully prepared for such a development, we still have fuel that will serve the country for the next few weeks, and we are hopeful that the situation will stabilize soon.”
He further emphasized that the government is actively engaging oil marketing companies to maintain fuel prices at an affordable level to cushion the economic burden on citizens. According to the minister, these discussions aim to ensure that fuel price adjustments remain reasonable and do not place excessive pressure on households, businesses, and transportation operators who rely heavily on petroleum products.
Sesay reassured the public that the government remains committed to protecting consumers and maintaining a stable supply of petroleum products across the country. He added that authorities will continue to monitor developments in the international oil market while strengthening collaboration with industry players to safeguard Sierra Leone’s fuel security in the coming weeks.
