By Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, September 12, 2025: Info Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah has criticized Consultant Musa Hassan Bility and different lawmakers for opposing the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company’s (LPRC) current resolution to scale back terminal charges on petroleum merchandise.
Talking Thursday at an everyday press briefing in Monrovia, Minister Piah expressed disappointment within the lawmakers, saying that whereas LPRC is present process important transformation, a few of its reforms have confronted pointless criticism from people who’ve lengthy benefited financially from the system.
He claimed that lots of these opposing the payment cuts have publicly boasted about their wealth, costly vehicles, and luxurious watches costing as much as USD$50,000.
“We don’t rejoice individuals who feast on what belongs to the nation. The nation wants sources to outlive, and the federal government will help something that directs sources to the folks,” Minister Piah mentioned.
On September 3, 2025, President Joseph Boakai issued a directive introducing a revised petroleum pricing construction. The transfer, based on the president, goals to make gas extra reasonably priced whereas securing funds for essential infrastructure, significantly the Highway Fund.
Since then, Representatives Bility and Jacob Cheategba Debee have condemned the initiative, arguing it diverts funds from Liberian owned terminal operators to LPRC, and violates the Public Monetary Administration (PFM) Act of 2009 (as amended in 2019), which governs the administration of public funds, together with income assortment by state-owned enterprises like LPRC, and mandates submission of budgets to the Ministry of Finance and Legislature, probably they says it threaten it’s viability and focus energy in fewer arms.
Responding to their criticism, Minister Piah mentioned the lawmakers are searching for public sympathy whereas overlooking the broader advantages of the reform.
He emphasised that the brand new construction ensures nationwide gas availability, stabilizes costs, reduces dependency on non-public importers, and enhances authorities oversight and transparency.
The minister additionally highlighted that the brand new pricing system introduces two levies to help Liberia’s social applications, together with funding county-level street building.
He projected that the income from these measures would attain $20 million yearly, with every of Liberia’s 15 counties receiving roughly $700,000 per yr.
Talking concerning the Ganta oil terminal’s rehabilitation and enlargement, Minister Piah mentioned the undertaking targets Nimba, Bong, Lofa, and southeastern counties, in addition to components of Guinea and Ivory Coast, with an funding of $7 to $ 8 million.
He acknowledged that the initiative would strengthen regional gas provide safety, cut back reliance on Monrovia, create jobs, improve market effectivity, and promote cross-border commerce.
Nevertheless, he revealed that earlier than the president’s directive, a research was carried out, and the outcomes present that Liberian storage operators have been amassing as a lot as 35 cents per gallon, far above the prices in neighboring nations, the place expenses are sometimes primarily based on a per-metric-ton foundation.
“So, we determined to introduce a brand new construction that reduces storage charges to five cents per gallon.” Minister Piah mentioned, reiterating that “We don’t rejoice individuals who feast on what belongs to the nation,”.
In the meantime, he revealed that as a part of the transformation, LPRC just lately accomplished its first direct importation of petroleum in 40 years, comprising 10,000 tons of gasoline and 5,000 tons of diesel.
