Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Director-General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), Brima Baluwa Koroma, has called on oil and gas traders, experts, producers, stakeholders, and regulators across Africa to accelerate efforts toward robust regional integration and harmonization of petroleum policies to enhance efficiency and accessibility within the industry.
Koroma made this appeal while serving as Guest Speaker at the 19th Africa Downstream Energy Week 2025 held in Lagos, Nigeria, under the theme “Africa Oil & Gas Market and Regional Regulatory Integration.”
Giving an overview of the downstream market, the NPRA Director-General described it as “absurd” that Africa continues to import over 70% of its refined petroleum products despite its vast hydrocarbon potential. He noted that fuel costs account for more than 40% of national import bills in some ECOWAS countries, placing a significant burden on both governments and citizens.
Koroma emphasized that persistent challenges such as price volatility, supply chain inefficiencies, and quality disparities demand a unified response. “Regional regulatory integration must no longer be a dream, but a common destination with a fundamentally new development approach,” he stated.
Highlighting the obstacles to achieving such integration, Koroma explained that the fragmentation of laws, standards, licensing systems, and tax regimes across Africa weakens collective leverage and discourages investment. This, he said, creates inconsistencies in fuel quality and pricing, tariff structures, unfair competition, and regulatory arbitrage.
He clarified that regional integration does not mean surrendering national control. “It is about increasing our collective control over our markets, over our common destiny, and over how we serve our citizens while preserving our African values,” Koroma said.
The NPRA Director-General further observed that Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, is experiencing the fastest demographic shift in the world. He stressed the need for a robust strategy that enables regulators to make decisions with conviction and speed. “Africa must make a decision that helps Africa,” he added.
Referencing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Koroma noted that Africa represents the world’s largest trade area, comprising 55 countries and eight regional economic communities, with a population of 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately USD 3.4 trillion. “It is desirable to create a single continental market,” he said, adding that regulators must remain united in thought and strategy.
Koroma emphasized that regional regulatory integration would strengthen Africa’s collective bargaining power, promote price transparency and market stability, boost economies of scale, and reduce costs for consumers and industries alike.
He concluded that while the downstream environment continues to evolve, a regional approach must remain flexible enough to adapt to the specific circumstances of each jurisdiction. Achieving this vision, he said, will require policy harmonization, joint infrastructure development, regulatory alignment, and above all, political will.
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