Freetown, Sierra Leone – March 6, 2026 – The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has released its latest Petroleum Pricing Regime, set to take effect from March 7, 2026, outlining updated full pass-through pump prices for key petroleum products amid evolving global oil benchmarks, freight costs, and domestic levies.
Under the new regime, the maximum allowable retail prices (full pass-through) are:
• Petrol: Le 32.00 per litre
• Diesel: Le 32.00 per litre
• Kerosene: Le 28.03 per litre
• Fuel Oil: Le 26.73 per litre
These figures represent a notable increase from the prevailing prices earlier in 2026, which saw petrol and diesel capped at NLe 28.50 per litre following January and February adjustments linked to the 2026 national budget’s tax measures, exchange rate pressures, and global Platts references.
The NPRA’s detailed breakdown starts with Average Platts Prices (FOB MED) for the period February 2–27, 2026, ranging from USD 686.53 per metric ton (MT) for petrol to USD 781.56 for kerosene. Additional costs include:
• Freight and premiums (USD 69–103.50 per MT)
• Import duty (5% on C&F value)
• Insurance, ocean loss allowance, storage, port, jetty, and other charges
• Conversion factors to litres per MT
• Exchange rate adjustment at Le 23.78 per USD
• Domestic components such as distribution costs (Le 5.22 per litre), excise duty (Le 5.00 for petrol/diesel), road user charges, fuel marking (Le 0.24), Petroleum Fund levy (Le 0.40), Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) provisions (up to Le 3.44 for petrol), and price correction levies
The landed cost in Leones per litre before final adjustments stands at approximately Le 14.86 for petrol, Le 17.46 for diesel, Le 17.89 for kerosene, and Le 11.99 for fuel oil, before layering on levies and funds to reach the full pass-through levels.
This regime emphasizes transparency and sustainability in Sierra Leone’s downstream petroleum sector. The NPRA notes that actual pump prices at retail outlets may vary up to these ceilings, depending on market conditions and individual dealer margins. The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) policy on large uplifters and USD-denominated payments remains unchanged.
The announcement follows earlier 2026 adjustments, where prices rose to NLe 28.50 per litre for petrol and diesel in January amid budget-driven excise duty hikes and global factors. The March update reflects fresher Platts data (higher benchmarks) and ongoing cost recoveries.
Consumers in Freetown and across the country are advised to monitor local filling stations closely, as the new ceilings could influence transportation fares and living costs. The NPRA, headquartered at the British Council Building, Tower Hill, Freetown, encourages stakeholders to contact them at info@npra.gov.sl or +232 78 296 126 / +232 88 484 829 for clarifications.
The full pricing table and components are available via official NPRA channels for public reference.
