Freetown, 7th March, 2026- The Government of Sierra Leone, through the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), has announced a 12.3% increase in fuel prices, raising the pump price of petrol and diesel from Le 28.50 to Le 32.00 per litre. The new petroleum pricing regime takes effect on, March 7, 2026.
According to the NPRA’s official pricing breakdown, kerosene will now sell at Le 28.03 per litre, while fuel oil is priced at Le 26.73 per litre.
The NPRA’s detailed pricing table shows that the adjustment reflects changes in international market conditions, freight charges, insurance, port fees, and exchange rate adjustments.
Average Platts Prices (FOB MED, Feb 2026): Petrol at USD 686.53 per metric ton, Diesel at USD 683.93, Kerosene at USD 781.56, and Fuel Oil at USD 371.43.
Freight & Premium Costs: Ranging from USD 69.00 for kerosene to USD 103.50 for fuel oil.
Exchange Rate Adjustment: Set at Le 23.78 per USD, directly impacting landed costs.
Landed Cost per Litre: Petrol at Le 14.86, Diesel at Le 17.46, Kerosene at Le 17.89, and Fuel Oil at Le 11.99.
Additional levies, including excise duty, road user charges, fuel marking, and contributions to the Infrastructure Development Fund, were factored in to arrive at the final pump prices.
The increase is expected to have ripple effects across the economy, particularly in transportation, food distribution, and household energy costs. The increase is expected to add pressure to consumers already facing rising living costs.
The NPRA emphasized that the “full pass-through” pricing regime is designed to ensure transparency by reflecting actual international market conditions and domestic cost structures.
