By Amin Kef Sesay
In a meeting that was held in the Trade Ministry’s Conference Room, on the 28th March, 2022, among officials representing the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Finance, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency and the leadership of the Sierra Leone Petroleum Dealers and Transporters Union (SLPDTU), which was part of the latter’s request in order to resume sale of petrol and diesel in the country, the outcome was largely successful as members of SLPDTU agreed to fully operate their various Fuel Stations to serve the people.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Hinga Sandy, assured the dealers that there are enough products in the country and that they should open their gas stations without any fear.
He reiterated Government’s commitment to support oil marketing companies, dealers and transporters in whatever way to continue their trade unhindered.
“As a Government we are ready to listen and do what is best for the consumers. We will now take control of the relationship between the dealers and OMCs to ensure everyone benefits equally and stop the pressure on consumers,” the Minister said
President of the Sierra Leone Petroleum Dealers and Transporters Union, Alhaji B.S Makasuba, called on dealers to resume their normal business across the country. “We have met with the Government and negotiated on a good note. The outcome was successful and we are calling on our dealers to sell their products as we don’t want to make it a political commodity. When you have it, you only have the right to your money as you are obliged to sell to the public. There has been no price change and no one should be above the law,” he appealed.
The Deputy Minister of Finance 1, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, noted the concerns of dealers and said that some adjustments have been made that show the concerns of the Government. He noted that the Government has heeded to some of their demands and they will be frequently engaged to make the sector a better one.
Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency, Brima Baluwa Koroma started by reiterating that fuel price remains Le15, 000 throughout Sierra Leone and therefore called on dealers and Oil Marketing Companies to serve the people.
The parties discussed the ongoing crisis in the distribution and sale of petroleum products and agreed on the following: that there is adequate stock of petroleum products in the country, that there is no imminent increase in the prices of petroleum products and no need for panic buying by the Public, that Government has noted concerns raised by the TDU and is committed to addressing them as soon as possible, all Dealers are urged to resume the sale of petroleum products with immediate effect and that the Public is assured of Government’s commitment to ensure the sustained availability of petroleum products in the domestic market, in spite of current global challenges affecting the Petroleum Industry.
| In a Press Release issued by the Sierra Leone Petroleum Dealers & Transporters Union (SLPDTU) they stated that Government has committed in the interim to do the following: Increase Dealers’ Margin and Transporter’s’ Tariff by Le25.00 each, applicable retrospective to the recent fuel pump price increase, that the rumoured price increase to Le 18,000 is untrue and that Government has no plans to increase fuel price in the immediate future, to ensure a representative of the Union is present when discussing future fuel pump price revisions, to engage other key stakeholders considered relevant in resolving their concerns and to convince the OMCs to ensure operations at their depots are extended to weekends and late-nights if the need arises.
The Union also stated that in light of the above actions and the commitments by Government to address the issues raised at the meeting, it is asking its membership to immediately resume their normal buying, transportation of petroleum products and the countrywide reselling of such at filling stations, whilst negotiations between the Union and Government are being progressed with. |
