Mixed reactions as petrol scarcity ushers in new pump price

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson

While most Sierra Leoneans were busy sending via social media new month wishes to their relatives, friends and other loved ones earlier on Tuesday, August 1 gas station owners in Makeni and beyond had abruptly halted sales of petrol claiming shortage of the product due to expected increase in price.

Behold the gas station owners’ speculation for an increase in the pump price which saw many residents of the cities nationwide especially in Makeni where other travelers form Kabala, Kono and Magburaka were transiting to Lunsar Freetown and Port-Loko had to pay exuberant amounts to access public transportation services to get to their destinations, became evident yesterday evening. Effective August 1, the Petroleum Regulatory Authority (PRA) together with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade & Industry and the Oil Marketing companies agreed to increase the price of all petrol products (Diesel, Fuel, Kerosene and Petrol) from NLe 21.5 to NLe 25 ushering an increase of three Leones, twenty five cents of the petroleum products nationwide. Reason for the increase in the maximum retail pump prices announcement according to PRA is due to the exchange rate of Leones to United States Dollar, and “hike in the international refined petroleum prices.” To some Sierra Leoneans, the price increase of petroleum products is not a surprise because the 2023 supplementary budget presented to parliament on Monday by the Finance Minister’s Sheku Fantamadi Bangura uncovers plans by the Government of Sierra Leone to hands-off subsidizing for fuel. On the other hand, other Sierra Leones after the PRA Tuesday evening joint presser have said on social media that the “increase in petroleum products price will undoubtedly lead to hike in prices of basic commodities such as rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, building materials and the likes with public transportation costs also poised to be increased nationwide.”