By Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, September 12, 2025: Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah has criticized Representative Musa Hassan Bility and other lawmakers for opposing the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation’s (LPRC) recent decision to reduce terminal fees on petroleum products.
Speaking Thursday at a regular press briefing in Monrovia, Minister Piah expressed disappointment in the lawmakers, saying that while LPRC is undergoing significant transformation, some of its reforms have faced unnecessary criticism from individuals who have long benefited financially from the system.
He claimed that many of those opposing the fee cuts have publicly boasted about their wealth, expensive cars, and luxury watches costing up to USD$50,000.
“We do not celebrate people who feast on what belongs to the country. The country needs resources to survive, and the government will support anything that directs resources to the people,” Minister Piah said.
On September 3, 2025, President Joseph Boakai issued a directive introducing a revised petroleum pricing structure. The move, according to the president, aims to make fuel more affordable while securing funds for critical infrastructure, particularly the Road 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 Financial Management (PFM) Act of 2009 (as amended in 2019), which governs the management of public finances, including revenue collection by state-owned enterprises like LPRC, and mandates submission of budgets to the Ministry of Finance and Legislature, potentially they says it threaten it’s viability and concentrate power in fewer hands.
Responding to their criticism, Minister Piah said the lawmakers are seeking public sympathy while overlooking the broader benefits of the reform.
He emphasized that the new structure ensures nationwide fuel availability, stabilizes prices, reduces dependency on private importers, and enhances government oversight and transparency.
The minister also highlighted that the new pricing system introduces two levies to support Liberia’s social programs, including funding county-level road construction.
He projected that the revenue from these measures would reach $20 million annually, with each of Liberia’s 15 counties receiving approximately $700,000 per year.
Speaking about the Ganta oil terminal’s rehabilitation and expansion, Minister Piah said the project targets Nimba, Bong, Lofa, and southeastern counties, as well as parts of Guinea and Ivory Coast, with an investment of $7 to $ 8 million.
He stated that the initiative would strengthen regional fuel supply security, reduce reliance on Monrovia, create jobs, enhance market efficiency, and promote cross-border trade.
However, he revealed that before the president’s directive, a study was conducted, and the results show that Liberian storage operators were collecting as much as 35 cents per gallon, far above the costs in neighboring countries, where charges are often based on a per-metric-ton basis.
“So, we decided to introduce a new structure that reduces storage fees to 5 cents per gallon.” Minister Piah said, reiterating that “We do not celebrate people who feast on what belongs to the country,”.
Meanwhile, he revealed that as part of the transformation, LPRC recently completed its first direct importation of petroleum in 40 years, comprising 10,000 tons of gasoline and 5,000 tons of diesel.
