As a chief stakeholder in the oil and gas sector in the country, NP (SL) has endorsed the introduction of the Fuel Marking System, which was launched at its Kissy Terminal.
The landmark event was held in two different locations; first at SICPA (SL) Limited’s warehouse at Wellington Industrial Estate, and then at NP’s Kissy Terminal.
Intended to revolutionise the market and provide efficient revenue generation for the government, the fuel marking system is introduced to aid marking petroleum products, by dropping an ink-like solution into petroleum products loaded in BRVs (fuel tankers). The substance, which is invisible to the human eye, can only be uniquely detected in a chemical laboratory to determine the required owner or category of product. The substance will not in any way affect the quality or quantity, nor will it change the color of the fuel.
NP is honored to have provided its Terminal facility for the system’s official launch and the symbolic fuel marking exercise, which happened right at one of its fuel gantries. Following the tour of SICPA’s workstation at NP’s Terminal, witnesses, including the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), the National Revenue Authority (NRA), civil society organizations, activists, the media, and other oil marketing companies, got to experience the very first fuel marking exercise conducted. In the presence of all, the exercise was carried out to demonstrate the significance of the process.
Marking the official launch of the system, the Commissioner General, NRA, Mrs. Jeneba Kpaka-Bangura stated that the system will benefit all categories of customers, especially concessional ones, i.e. fuel bounded for the mining companies that are not taxed by the government. She explained that if such fuel is taken elsewhere for sale, it will be easily identified. She mentioned that the initiative is part of the ongoing reformations embarked on by NRA since 2019. She also noted that the system does not mean a new or additional tax measure. Madam Jeneba emphasised that everyone needs to know that the system will not incur an increase in fuel pump price. “The main target of the government in implementing the system is to protect taxpayers’ money and even the OMCs and their investment in the sector.”
Applauding the new technological advancement, and pledging NP’s full support to achieve the best with the system, Mr. Consvonne Macrae, Finance & Accounts Manager, NP (SL) Limited, said NP openly welcomes the system, noting that the Company believes that marking fuel in the petroleum sector is a game changer for revenue collection and fair business play in Sierra Leone. “It is undeniable that when it comes to revenue generation, the oil marketing sector contributes a huge chunk. As a responsible corporate citizen, NP wholeheartedly applauds any improvement that the government deems appropriate to introduce into this sector.” According to the Finance & Accounts Manager, with fuel marking, the issue of diverting products to customers who should not benefit from tax concession products is something that will now be “a thing of the past.”
The system will introduce patrolling mobile labs. These are vehicles capacitated to travel far and check fuel storage facilities at filling stations to identify the category of fuel in store previously supplied by BRVs.