Trade Committee Chair Calls On Colleagues To Approve National Petroleum Regulatory Authority Act

By Desmond Isaac Macauley
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Friday, 10th January 2025 debated on the Bill entitled: “The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority Act, 2024.”
The Bill seeks to provide for the continuation of the Petroleum Regulatory Authority which will now be known as the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority and shall continue to provide for the regulation of the petroleum industry including the licensing, monitoring and supervision of refineries, transportation, marketing and retail activities.
Presenting the bill, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Ibrahim Alpha Sesay said global crisis for oil is slowing government effort to meet the products demand and supply.
He also reassured Parliament about the protection of the interest of the consumers and the providers.
He underscored the need for review of parent documents to meet with the global trend in tandem with new transformations including storage facilities and others.
Explaining the objective of the document, the Minister noted that the document intends to ensure enforcement mandate, to achieve efficiency.
Chairperson of the Trade Committee in Parliament, Hon Veronica Kadie Sesay, who is also the Deputy Chief Whip 1 said the document was overdue and expressed the importance of the petroleum products and essentiality.
She informed the House that the bill would enhance due diligence in the sector and decentralization of the commodity across the country.
She emphasized on the importance of the bill in light of transforming the Agency.
She concluded that, the bill was not controversial and encouraged colleague MPs to support its approval.