- The Liberia Petroleum Products Retailers Union is preparing to take Liberia's downstream petroleum concerns to one of Africa's leading energy gatherings after receiving an invitation to participate in the 20th anniversary of the OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos, Nigeria.
LIPPRU President Prince Tambah Nyumah said the invitation provides an opportunity for Liberia to showcase developments in its petroleum sector while advocating for stronger regional fuel standards, financing for retailers and an energy transition suited to the country's economic realities.
The event, organized by OTL Africa Downstream Development Ltd/Gte, is expected to bring together regulators, petroleum importers, financiers, retailers and other industry actors under the theme, "Secure Energy, Share Prosperity."
The conference, scheduled to be held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, will mark two decades of the regional downstream gathering and focus on the future of West Africa's petroleum and energy industries.
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According to Nyumah, discussions are expected to center on harmonizing regional fuel standards, financing retail modernization, developing practical energy transition pathways and strengthening the last-mile supply chain.
The forum is also expected to examine coastal shipping, petroleum storage arrangements and greater policy coordination aimed at reducing costs and combating fuel smuggling across ECOWAS member states.
Nyumah said Liberia's participation presents an opportunity to highlight developments in the country's petroleum sector, including new storage terminals at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, a petroleum laboratory, digital licensing and regular pricing consultations.
"We are going to showcase Liberia. We are going to speak on behalf of the 300 plus retailers who serve every county in Liberia," Nyumah told journalists.
He said the conference would also expose Liberian petroleum retailers to international best practices in safety, training and business management as LIPPRU seeks to strengthen the capacity of its members.
As an invited panelist, Nyumah said he intends to advance three major priorities for the West African petroleum retail industry.
The first is greater harmonization of fuel specifications and pricing models across the 15 ECOWAS markets.
He also intends to advocate for the establishment of a West African Retail Modernization Fund that would provide financing to small and medium-sized petroleum businesses for tank upgrades, safety equipment, training and other improvements.
"When the retailer is strong, the supply chain is strong. When the retailer fails, the last mile fails," he warned.
Nyumah said his third priority will be advocating for a practical energy transition that recognizes Liberia's existing infrastructure and development needs.
Rather than immediately shifting toward electric vehicles, he said Liberia should prioritize liquefied petroleum gas for cleaner cooking, biofuel blending using locally available products such as cassava and palm, and the development of solar-hybrid filling stations.
Nyumah said his presentation, titled "What's Next: Liberia Retail in 2026," will highlight changes already taking place within the country's downstream sector.
Those include the transition toward 50 parts per million sulfur fuels under the ECOWAS roadmap, increased transparency through data and the gradual transformation of traditional filling stations into broader energy hubs offering LPG, solar services and mobile money.
"Secure energy begins at the pump. Share prosperity begins with the retailer," Nyumah stated.
He said his presentation will also highlight persistent challenges facing petroleum retailers, including what he described as inadequate retailer representation in fuel-pricing discussions, evaporation losses between petroleum terminals and pumps and the failure of reductions in fuel prices to consistently translate into lower transportation fares for consumers.
While LIPPRU has secured an invitation to participate, Nyumah said the invitation covers only one representative.
The union is therefore seeking financial support from the government to enable two or three additional representatives to attend.
Nyumah appealed to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, LPRC, National Road Fund and Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority for support.
"We are drafting communication now to see how the government can help LIPPRU be fully represented. The training and exposure we get will help the energy sector of Liberia," he said.
According to Nyumah, broader representation would allow Liberia to participate more effectively in discussions and establish relationships with investors, financiers and petroleum suppliers expected at the conference.
He stressed that petroleum retailers should be treated as important stakeholders in energy security and consumer protection because they represent the final link between the country's petroleum supply system and consumers.
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Nyumah warned that policies developed without adequate retailer participation risk encountering difficulties when implemented.
He also called for greater involvement of the Ministry of Transport and transportation unions in petroleum pricing discussions, arguing that reductions in pump prices should ultimately provide relief to commuters.
"If we harmonize policy, finance compliance, and include retail in transition planning, West Africa will not just import fuel, we will build a regional market that creates jobs," he asserted.
LIPPRU said it intends to use the Lagos conference to establish partnerships with financiers and suppliers while strengthening Liberia's participation in broader ECOWAS energy integration initiatives.
The union is also interested in regional infrastructure proposals aimed at reducing petroleum supply costs, including discussions surrounding greater regional connectivity for fuel distribution.
With the conference expected later this year, LIPPRU is lobbying the government for support to expand Liberia's delegation beyond a single participant and ensure that the concerns of petroleum retailers -- the final link in the fuel supply chain -- receive greater attention in discussions shaping West Africa's energy future.
