In Absence Of Parliamentary Oversight… Questions Arise Over Aminata & Sons Fuel Storage Concession

By John Kelly Marah

A major concession agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and Aminata & Sons (SL) Limited has sparked concerns over transparency and parliamentary oversight after it emerged that the agreement was never formally tabled before Parliament for debate.

The agreement grants Aminata & Sons exclusive rights to rehabilitate, operate, and manage four petroleum storage tanks located at the Kissy Terminal and Port vicinity. Under the arrangement, the company will take control of two non-operational tanks at Kissy, as well as two additional tanks leased from the Sierra Leone Ports Authority. The company is also granted berthing rights to discharge petroleum vessels directly at the port.

Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Hon. Kekura Vandi, confirmed that the agreement was never formally laid before Parliament despite previously appearing on the Order Paper.

“At some point in time it was on the Order Paper, but it was withdrawn; therefore, it was never discussed. An agreement of such nature needs to be laid before Parliament for consideration,” he stated.

According to the agreement, Aminata & Sons will finance the rehabilitation of the tanks, construct pipelines, and assume responsibility for maintenance and security of the facilities. In return, the company will benefit from a range of fiscal incentives, including tax exemptions on imported equipment, deferred import taxes on petroleum products, and allowances for corporate social responsibility expenditures.

Supporters of the concession argue that the investment could strengthen Sierra Leone’s fuel storage capacity, improve strategic reserves, and help prevent supply shortages. However, industry stakeholders have raised concerns that the arrangement could distort competition within the petroleum sector.

Critics contend that granting a single company access to key storage infrastructure and extensive concessions may place smaller operators at a disadvantage and potentially create a dominant position in fuel storage and distribution.

The agreement further requires Aminata & Sons to cover 35 percent of operational costs at the Kissy Terminal, while benefiting from priority loading arrangements. The company is also exempted from import duties on machinery for five years and will be allowed to defer petroleum import tax payments for three years, subject to interest charges.

While the concession is viewed by some as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening national fuel security, concerns remain over the absence of parliamentary scrutiny. Observers argue that legislative oversight is necessary to ensure accountability, transparency, and fair competition in the management of critical national infrastructure.

As debate continues, attention is expected to focus on whether the agreement will eventually be presented to Parliament for review and approval.