Freetown, Sierra Leone – February 25, 2026** – The Sierra Leone Petroleum Dealers and Transporters Union (SLPDTU) has issued a strong critique of the current fuel marking and testing procedures enforced by the National Revenue Authority (NRA) and its contracted partner, SICPA, warning that systemic flaws are threatening the livelihoods of dealers and could disrupt the downstream petroleum sector.
In a press release dated today, the union expressed “grave concern” over the methodology and implementation of the fuel marking program, which is intended to monitor product identity and secure government revenue.
Despite multiple engagements mediated by the National Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NPRA), the SLPDTU stated that no significant progress has been made to address their issues.
“While the Union fully supports the Government’s efforts to monitor product identity and secure revenue, we find the current implementation by SICPA to be fundamentally flawed,” the release reads.
It highlights that petroleum dealers contribute 0.24 per liter toward fuel marking costs but argues they should not be held liable for failures in a process beyond their control.
Key concerns outlined by the SLPDTU include a lack of efficacy in the marking system, with questions raised about the consistency and quality of the chemical markers used.
“Inconsistencies in the application process have led to unwarranted variances during testing,” the union noted, pointing to potential unreliability in the detection methods.
A major point of contention is SICPA’s dual role in both marking the fuel and conducting subsequent tests, which the SLPDTU describes as a “player and referee” dynamic lacking transparency and independent oversight. This setup, they argue, undermines fairness in the industry.
The union also referenced a previously proposed alternative: a product-coloring method they believe would be more transparent. However, this suggestion was reportedly disregarded. In response to recent heavy fines and penalties imposed by the NRA based on these allegedly flawed tests, the SLPDTU warned of risks to members’ livelihoods and broader disruptions in the petroleum supply chain.
“In lieu thereof, the Union maintains that the current atmosphere of unfairness is unsustainable,” the release states.
“We hereby call on NPRA, NRA and/or SICPA to immediately suspend all testing until a competent, independent body can conduct a comprehensive audit of their system.”
Despite the criticisms, the SLPDTU reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation, emphasizing that any process must be governed by transparency, consistency, and fairness. The release was signed by the union’s Secretary General.
This development comes amid recent turbulence in Sierra Leone’s petroleum sector. Earlier this month, the NPRA warned petroleum dealers against uniform price fixing after pump prices rose to NLe 28.50 per liter for petrol and diesel in January 2026, describing such practices as potential cartel behavior.
The fuel marking program, managed by Swiss-based SICPA, a global leader in fuel integrity solutions that marks over 60 billion liters annually worldwide, is designed to combat smuggling and fraud, which costs governments billions in lost revenue each year.
SICPA’s technology uses molecular markers to track petroleum products, providing traceability throughout the supply chain. In Sierra Leone, the system supports the NRA’s efforts to enforce excise duties, as highlighted in recent IMF consultations on the country’s economic policies.
The SLPDTU, based in Freetown with the motto “Connecting The Nation Through Fuel,” represents dealers and transporters nationwide and can be contacted at slpdtunion@gmail.com or via phone at +232 79323702/+232 30776020.
