ENERGY CRISIS Blackout + Fuel Scarcity
By: Christian Conteh
As the blackout continues across the country, Freetown has been greeted with an acute fuel scarcity completing the full cycle of an energy crisis. Homes are dark not just metaphorically, but quite literally, as the nation grapples with a relentless energy crisis. From bustling city streets to remote villages, the blackout casts a shadow over daily life, exacerbating the challenges faced by citizens and businesses alike.
Adding insult to injury, Freetown, the capital city, finds itself ensnared in the clutches of an acute fuel scarcity, amplifying the woes of an already beleaguered population. Long queues can be spotted across fuel stations in the central business district of the capital Freetown.
Aminata Kamara, a resident of Wellington, laments, “The blackout has become a nightly ordeal for us. Without electricity, basic tasks like cooking and studying become Herculean challenges. And now, with the fuel shortage, even the backup generators have become useless relics.”
In the wake of this crisis, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency the institution responsible for regulating, monitoring and overseeing petroleum and Petroleum Products in the downstream industry in Sierra Leone has put out a press release noting that there is enough fuel in the country to meet the needs of the public, asserting that the agency will not tolerate hoarding.
The release states that any dealer found hoarding fuel to trigger price hikes will face consequences ranging from immediate deregistration to ultimate license revocation.
Mohamed Sesay, a small business owner at Hastings shares his frustration, “Running my shop has become a nightmare. With power outages disrupting business hours and now the fuel shortage making it impossible to operate my generator, I’m staring at dwindling profits and mounting debts.”
“We will not tolerate hoarding,” declares the agency, “and any dealer found engaging in such practices to manipulate prices will face swift and severe consequences, including deregistration and license revocation.”
However, behind the official assurances lies the harsh reality of scarcity, whether born of natural circumstances or exacerbated by market forces. Long queues snake their way through fuel stations in Freetown’s central business district, a tangible testament to the struggles faced by ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
Fatmata Conteh, a nurse at a local hospital, voices concerns over the impact on healthcare services, “Our hospital relies on generators to power life-saving equipment and keep critical areas illuminated during emergencies. The blackout and fuel scarcity put patients’ lives at risk. It’s a matter of life and death.”
On his part, Ibrahim Bangura, a transportation entrepreneur who plies the Freetown- Makeni road, paints a grim picture of the transport sector, “The fuel shortage has crippled our ability to provide essential services. Public transportation is grinding to a halt, leaving commuters stranded and businesses dependent on timely deliveries in dire straits.”
In the face of these dire circumstances, Sierra Leoneans find themselves caught in a vicious cycle of uncertainty and hardship. While official assurances offer a glimmer of hope, the reality on the ground demands urgent and concerted action to alleviate the plight of the people and steer the nation towards brighter horizons.
