By Amin kef Sesay
In an exclusive engagement with this medium, the Acting Chairman of the Civil Society Organization Consortium on Petroleum and Industrial Relations in Sierra Leone, Alphonso Manley, intimated that as a public oversight body they have been closely monitoring the activities of petroleum marketing entities in the country furthering how the membership of the consortium is highly impressed and pleased with the way and manner in which the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is conducting business in the country.
He categorically disclosed how the Consortium is very much satisfied with the expansion and rehabilitation of NP-SL Ltd’s facility at the Kissy Terminal, the expansionist drive undertaken by the company ,manifest in the commissioning of new Filling or Gas Stations in different parts of the country, especially in hard to reach areas, the introduction and use of the NP Smart Card as well as its qualitative service delivery to members of the public.
He informed The Calabash that it is important for the world to know that NP-SL Ltd is currently undertaking a fantastic expansion work on its facility at the Kissy Terminal. “The company has invested a colossal amount of money in expanding its facility and such is deemed as a step in the right direction because it shows how responsive the company is to the dynamics within the petroleum landscape and such a move will definitely position it to continue to live up to future exigencies with regards increasing demand for petroleum products,” he frankly pointed out.
Manley again stated, “One cannot over-emphasize the importance of the availability of petroleum products in our day to day activities and to see a company like NP-SL Ltd frequently commissioning new Filling Stations in different parts of the country is no mean feat as such makes life more worth living.” Alphonso Manley did not mince his words by stating that the company is extremely doing well in the area of eradicating energy poverty in hard to reach communities through the opening of Filling Stations in those places and the attendant benefits that go with such.
He continued that in the estimation of members of the consortium, NP-SL Ltd truly deserves the accolade of 1st for Customer Care. “Majority of the Filling Stations bearing the NP logo , both in Freetown and the provinces, are well built, mostly kept tidy, the pump attendants are so polite in their approach and treatment of customers to such an extent that one is initially highly impressed and left with the feeling of going there again,” he stated disclosing how the feedback they have so far received from members of the public also confirmed their independent assessment bordering on the enhanced customer care portfolio of the company.
Dilating on their view of the use of the NP Smart Card, Alphonso Manley stated that it is a very good initiative and in line with modern trends. He also maintained that the use of the NP Smart Card expedite fuel transactions at Filling Stations and help holders of the Card to properly plan their fuel budget. “We do welcome the introduction and use of modern innovative ways that will make real time fuel transactions faster and more convenient and in that regard will want to commend the company for making that possible,” he asserted during the engagement.
Alphonso Manley also commended the regulatory entity of petroleum marketing entities in the country, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) for opening up the space for new players to get onboard maintaining that where there is keen competition, efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery will be highly upheld as one company will try to outsmart another. He maintained that because of the pro-activeness of PRA Government is deriving more revenue from the downstream sector as against what used to transpire.
The engagement ended by the Acting Chairman of the Civil Society Organization Consortium on Petroleum and Industrial Relations in Sierra Leone, Alphonso Manley, appealing to the Management of NP-SL Ltd to maintain the status quo antebellum reiterating that the petroleum marketing company is making meaningful inroads and positively impacting overall national development.
