Freetown, Sierra Leone – March 12, 2026 — The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has issued a firm public reminder that it is the sole authorised body responsible for announcing petroleum pump prices in Sierra Leone, acting in consultation with the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Finance.
In a press release issued from its headquarters in Freetown, the NPRA stated that the approved retail pump price for both petrol and diesel remains unchanged at NLe 32.00 per litre across the entire country.
The authority emphasised that there is currently adequate stock of petroleum products available nationwide and strongly urged all marketing companies and dealers to comply fully with the official price structure.
“Any dealer found hoarding petroleum products or selling above the approved price will face the full penalties prescribed by law,” the statement warned, while reaffirming the NPRA’s commitment to fair pricing, transparency, and uninterrupted supply for the benefit of all citizens.
This notice comes just days after the NPRA implemented a new pricing regime effective 7 March 2026, which adjusted petrol and diesel from the previous NLe 28.50 per litre to the current NLe 32.00 level.
The increase was driven by ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, international market fluctuations, rising freight and premium charges, import duties, and other statutory levies, all factored into Sierra Leone’s transparent pricing formula (which also reflects an exchange rate of approximately Le 23.78 to the US dollar).
NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma has defended the adjustment, noting that failing to align with global realities risked supply shortages.
He highlighted that Sierra Leone has reduced fuel prices eight times since 2018 and continues to maintain some of the lowest pump prices in the West African region, thanks to the country’s open and publicly available pricing mechanism.
For context, the latest official pricing schedule also lists kerosene at NLe 28.03 per litre and fuel oil at NLe 26.73 per litre. All petroleum products in Sierra Leone are imported, making the sector sensitive to global developments, yet the government continues to monitor the situation closely to protect consumers and businesses from unnecessary hardship.
The NPRA’s latest notice is widely seen as an effort to counter any rumours of further immediate increases or attempts at profiteering following the March adjustment. Consumers are encouraged to report violations directly to the authority at its British Council Building offices on Tower Hill or via its official channels.
The full press release was issued by the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), Freetown, Sierra Leone. For verification, the current prices are published on the official NPRA website at pra.gov.sl.
