Africa-Press – Gambia. Lawmakers Monday expressed concern that the absence of a national petroleum testing laboratory is undermining oversight of The Gambia’s fuel sector.
During the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) sitting, officials from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) disclosed that, due to the lack of an accredited laboratory in the country, fuel samples are routinely sent to Senegal for quality testing under a costly contractual arrangement.
Committee members warned that this temporary measure exposes the country to delays, higher costs, and potential risks in regulating fuel quality.
“Transporting samples abroad is not a sustainable solution,” said one lawmaker. “We need a functional lab here to ensure timely verification and safeguard public and industrial interests.”
PURA representatives said the arrangement was a stopgap measure and stressed the need for a local accredited facility to conduct accurate and consistent testing. They noted that a national laboratory was expected to be established through the ongoing SICPA project in collaboration with the Standards Bureau.
Although a site has been identified and scoping visits conducted, essential laboratory equipment is still pending.
The matter gained urgency as the committee reviewed PURA’s delayed financial reports for 2022 to 2024. Lawmakers highlighted recurring audit findings, governance gaps, and control weaknesses, some dating back to 2021, emphasizing the need for a fully operational regulatory framework, including proper fuel testing.
PURA states that fuel quality is currently verified using supplier certificates and occasional sample testing in Senegal. Jet fuel follows international standards, but other petroleum products require shipment of samples abroad before results can guide domestic distribution—a process described as costly and time-consuming.
The committee directed PURA to provide a concrete timeline for the laboratory’s completion and to include updates in forthcoming reports.
“The goal is clear: a national lab must be operational before the next reporting cycle,” the committee chair said, underscoring the facility’s importance for the country’s energy security.
