By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) has suspended five gas stations as a result of artificial shortage of petroleum products created by the dealers in the country particularly into the New Year, despite the country being sufficiently stocked according to the regulatory agency.
The action of majority of the dealers led to an increase in the prices of petroleum products in the black markets and subsequently a sharp increase in transportation fare across the country especially in the city.
This according to Ibrahim Feika, a commercial motorcyclist in Kenema was no fault of theirs as they are left with no option but to increase the transportation fares since they are doing business and have to report at the end to those who gave them the motorcycles.
However, some gas stations like the NP at the Law Court building in Freetown was functional when Politico visited. A Receptionist there could not say much except that their gas station has not experienced any shortage and that they were operating as usual.
A press statement from the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) dated 5th January 2022, stated that the agency carried out preliminary investigations which indicated that a number of dealers deliberately held back sales to end-users in anticipation of a price increase. “This practice is tantamount to hoarding and is an offence under Part VII, No.72 (2b) and Part VIII No. 68 of the Statutory instrument of 2016,” it reads, stating that the following gas stations, Mohamed Kamalobee Koroma Enterprise, 1 Lower Allen Town, Freetown, NP Campbell Street, Freetown, Total Fenesu Gas Station, Fenton Road Bo, Kalinda Enterprise Gas Station, Reservation Junction, Bo, and Ibrahim Saccoh, 2 Kenema Highway, Bo have all been duly suspended from business.
The agency in its release warned all Oil Marketing Companies and Dealers that anyone found to deliberately hold back sales of petroleum products will be deemed to have hoarded, and that PRA shall not hesitate to permanently revoke licenses of companies or dealers found in breach of the statutory instrument.
It added that maximum pump price for petroleum products is Le 10,000 for the month of January 2022 throughout Sierra Leone.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (10/01/22)
