PRA Chairman Brima Baluwa Champions LPG Adoption at Dakar Expo

At the Dakar Expo in Senegal, Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) of Sierra Leone, Brima Baluwa Koroma, emphasized the importance of increasing the adoption and penetration of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Sierra Leone and West Africa. During the two-day conference titled “Promoting Liquefied Petroleum Gas as Clean Energy in West Africa,” Koroma highlighted Sierra Leone’s commitment to improving energy access with reliable and cleaner energy sources.

He underscored the achievements of President Julius Maada Bio in the energy sector, including the launch of a $412 million energy project for a 126.7-MW electricity and combined cycle power plant project in Freetown. Koroma also mentioned ongoing government initiatives such as awareness-raising campaigns, deforestation reduction strategies, and investment potentials in the LPG sector.

Despite Sierra Leone exporting 600 metric tons of LPG to Liberia and Guinea annually, market penetration within Sierra Leone remains below 12%. Koroma reiterated the Agency’s collaborative efforts to increase awareness and consumption of LPG through various platforms, including social media, print, electronic media, and community engagement. He noted the Agency’s participation in the LPG Standard Validation workshop held in Freetown in 2023, along with the Ministry of Energy and ECOWAS.

Koroma discussed the need for more investments in the LPG sector with officials from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to boost penetration and reduce the cost of cylinders for consumers. He emphasized Sierra Leone’s policies and reforms aimed at increasing LPG adoption to attract potential investors by showcasing the country’s investment-friendly environment and opportunities for growth.

Additionally, Koroma engaged in detailed bilateral discussions with international companies interested in investing in Sierra Leone’s downstream petroleum industry, including BEENERGY, GazPro FZC, and Trident Gas & Oil Engineering.