Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County Electoral District #7 has strongly condemned the Government of Liberia’s recent decision to reduce storage fees payable to Liberian terminal operators from thirty-five cents ($0.35) to two cents ($0.02) per gallon, while simultaneously creating new “technical” cost lines for the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC).
According to a communication from the LPRC, the new measures would effectively divert revenue away from Liberian terminal operators and channel it to the LPRC, the primary beneficiary of the decision. Rep. Bility described this action as a deliberate attempt to undermine Liberian ownership in the petroleum sector, weaken private innovation, and consolidate control in the hands of a few. “The net effect of this decision is to shut down Liberian-owned petroleum terminals and centralize power,” Rep. Bility warned.
“This move threatens not only our energy security but also the jobs and livelihoods of countless Liberian families. Terminal operators cannot remain in business under such conditions.” The lawmaker emphasized that the role of government is to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive, not to suffocate it. He characterized the new policy as “a direct contravention” of that role and a deliberate effort to cripple Liberian entrepreneurs who have invested millions of dollars in infrastructure, technology, and workforce development within the petroleum sector.
“These investments have stabilized the petroleum market, ensured product availability, created jobs for Liberians, and strengthened our economy. Sacrificing such progress under the guise of price relief is irresponsible and unsustainable,” Rep. Bility stated. Speaking both as a legislator and as the owner of Srimex Oil and Gas Company, which has operated in the sector for over 15 years, Rep. Bility underscored that petroleum terminal operations remain one of the few sectors built and sustained exclusively by Liberians.
“No responsible government would destroy its own citizens’ businesses for political interests,” he added. He therefore called on the Government of Liberia to immediately halt the implementation of this policy and instead engage in transparent consultations with petroleum terminal operators and other stakeholders. “Any genuine reform in the petroleum sector must serve the Liberian people and promote the growth of the private sector, not undermine it. I urge the Government to reconsider this harmful maneuver and prioritize the survival and progress of Liberian-owned businesses,” Rep. Bility concluded.
