By Amin Kef Sesay
The erudite Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), Ambassador Kobi Walker informed a galaxy of stakeholders within the petroleum sector of the Southern-Eastern and Northern Provinces, in Bo and Makeni, that there is a considerable amount of petroleum products in the country, with particular reference to petrol and diesel. He furthered that in that regard since they are directly interfacing with members of the public they must continue to sell their products which they have in stock.
“There is no need for you to hoard these products because even if there is going to be an increase in the price such will not materialize now as you know that any change in price only takes place at the end of the month,” he stated referring to the PRA monthly review of prices for petroleum products.
The charismatic personality, who has decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, also intimated that there is no need at this particular moment for any panic buying as such is not advisable for now. He said indeed the war between Russia and Ukraine is having debilitating effects on the supply of petroleum products as 31% of petroleum products is derived from Russia.
He, however, gave the assurance on the back of informing the petroleum stakeholders and by extension the general public that they as importers or marketers within the sector,, engaged the Government represented by an established Committee, headed by the Chief Minister, during which they put across the challenges they are encountering and how Government could step in to keep the flow of petroleum products in the country. Amb Kobi Walker revealed that the meeting was fruitful as the Government faithfully committed to do everything possible to allow them access these products.
The Chief Executive Officer ended up appealing to all Dealers, Station Managers, Pump Attendants and Resellers to do the needful by opening their Filling Stations and continue selling to members of the public.
Ambassador Kobi Walker was among the Management team and some other members of staff in Bo and Makeni who were in those parts of the country over the week end to show appreciation to Dealers and Resellers for standing by the side of the company during thin and thick as well as for excellent performances during 2021.
Before they were awarded Certificates of Appreciation and Excellent Performance, Amb Kobi Walker informed that as a company they cherish the relationship that exists between them and they as dealers and resellers they saw the need to show appreciation to them for their dedication and mainly because of the fact that they are the reason why the company still exists.
“When it is vacation you do not rest unlike others and because of the Supreme Sacrifices you are making you truly deserve appreciation and reward,” he stated and prayed that the relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength.
The indisputable fact remains that NP-SL Ltd is the leading petroleum importing and marketing company operating in the country best known as 1st for Customer Care. The attractiveness of Filling Stations that carry its brand name is so captivating in terms of attracting customers, the neatness of pump attendants, the encouraging ways they treat customers, matching with modern day technology are all components taken into consideration for the indigenous business entity to be considered as 1st for Customer Care.
It goes without saying that NP-SL is among limited indigenous companies in the country that puts premium on optimizing the Local Content Policy by strictly limiting employment to only Sierra Leoneans.
NP-SL Ltd is the only known company to have introduced a Smart Card now known as NP-Smart Card to purchase fuel. The holder of a NP Smart Card only needs to top-up the Card with some amount of money. After that the Card is ready for use: slotted into a space on the pumping machine at a Filling Station and the amount that is required is pumped into a vehicle.
It is a cashless way of conducting transactions and is said to be very safe, economical and helps the holder to strategically plan how much he or she spends on the purchase of fuel for a specific period of time.
With the people oriented mantra in its business style, NP-SL Ltd also has for sale NP Gas. This is a cooking device which has been certified as convenient for cooking purposes. They are manufactured in different cylinder sizes and could be bought at affordable prices at Filling Stations and from authorized dealers. It has been proven that they are environmentally friendly and very fast in terms of high precision.
The company also markets one of the best engine oil which indisputably is Castrol Oil said to be very good for the lubrication of car engines and other engines.
Having established branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where it has Filling Stations operating efficiently, NP-SL Ltd is a Pan-West African business entity that has stood the test of time and making headway in terms of effective service delivery.
The advice given by the Chief Executive Officer of the Sierra Leone branch, which is the parent body, was indeed done in good faith with a view to discourage artificial scarcity of fuel with the propensity to bring activities in this part of the country to a standstill.
