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Aminata & Sons (SL) Limited: Ushering a New Era in Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Industry

A Landmark Commissioning

Aminata & Sons (SL) Limited, the Sierra Leonean subsidiary of Liberia’s oldest and largest petroleum provider, has been officially commissioned as a transformative force in Sierra Leone’s fuel sector. The ceremony, led by Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, marks a pivotal step in regional energy collaboration and positions Aminata as a key player in addressing fuel shortages and raising industry standards through high-quality imports.

Strategic Entry and Immediate Impact

Aminata’s operations began on March 15, 2024, with the docking of its inaugural vessel, TORM ASTRID, at Freetown’s Queen Elizabeth II Quay. This shipment delivered over 2,000 metric tons of 10ppm premium diesel an environmentally friendlier fuel that reduces machinery maintenance costs and boosts industrial efficiency. By June 2024, the company escalated its response to the fuel crisis by airlifting 5,000 metric tons of gasoline, with another 4,000 metric tons of diesel on the way to stabilize national supply.

Commitment to Quality and Local Growth

Aminata’s entry followed rigorous quality testing by the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, which granted the company a Certificate of Clearance for meeting stringent fuel standards. The company has made local employment a priority, with 95% of its workforce comprising Sierra Leoneans, and has established storage facilities in Clinetown and Kissy to ensure efficient nationwide distribution.

Vision for Economic Development

CEO Mohammed S. Turay emphasized Aminata’s mission to drive economic growth by ensuring reliable fuel access for sectors such as mining, manufacturing, and small businesses. The company plans to expand its product range to include jet fuel, lubricants, and heavy fuel oil, while investing in enhanced storage infrastructure to support Sierra Leone’s long-term market needs.

Stakeholder Endorsements and National Impact

The commissioning event in Cline Town, attended by government ministers, regulators, and industry leaders, highlighted Aminata’s role in refurbishing 13,000 metric tons of petroleum storage capacity8,000 in Cline Town and 5,000 in Kissy. This investment is set to decongest existing terminals and support Sierra Leone’s target of 5,000 metric tons for domestic consumption.
Chief Minister Sengeh and Minister of Trade Ibrahim Alpha Sesay praised Aminata’s resilience and commitment to regional integration, noting the company’s contribution to job creation and economic diversification. Aminata’s arrival, alongside other major suppliers, is expected to end fuel shortages and ensure a stable, sufficient supply for Sierra Leone’s growing economy.

A New Chapter for Sierra Leone

Aminata & Sons (SL) Limited’s commissioning marks a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s energy landscapeone defined by cross-border expertise, sustainable development, and a commitment to uplifting local communities through innovation and quality service.

The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Trade and Industry has inspected the Aminata and Sons (SL) Limited, Conex Energy, Eco Energy and the National Petroleum (NP) Terminals in Freetown on June 18, 2024.

The Chairperson for the committee, Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay, stated that their visit is a key oversight priority assigned by the House of Parliament to ensure Oil Marketers Companies (OMCs) are adhering to the importation, distribution, transportation and retailing of petroleum products with a fair and competitive business atmosphere.

Honourable Sesay appealed to OMCs to maintain mutual and collaborative business synergies to improve the Downstream Petroleum Sector, ensure consistent fuel supply, and provide quality service delivery in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of Aminata and Sons (SL) Limited, Mr. Mohamed Turay, expressed gratitude for the committee’s engagement and assured their fullest support in boosting the fuel industry.

Highlighting NP’s success story, CEO Saidu Mansaray explained their achievements, digital transformations and innovations to break barriers in the sector and end fuel scarcity. However, he mentioned challenges with forex, poor road network and makeshift establishments near the terminal, urging the committee to address these concerns with the appropriate authorities.

The Sophisticated Loading Gantry

After recent intensified works, the company is on the verge to complete the installation of its modern loading gantry at the Cline Town Terminal in Freetown. The gantry will feature a Four (4) way loading positions, loading tanker trucks at the same time powers by electric centrifugal pumps with the capacity of pumping 166,000 liter or 44,000 gallons of petroleum products per hour. The gantry expected to load approximately 1,332,320 liters or 352,000 gallons or 1,147 metric tons (minimum) for 8 hrs-working day. This number will double if the when the terminal works double shift. The gantry will also feature online modern sophisticated equipment such as: Electric meters and microlaod, pressure indicator and relief valves, explosion proof devise, and online loading transaction view and printout etc…

The Storage Tanks

 The depot currently has two storage tanks, each tank holding capacity is approximate 5 million liters or 4,300 metric tons. The tanks have been revamped and protected by bund walls (spillage containment) holding about 15% of the tank capacity in the event of spillage. The tanks will feature electronic tanks gauging system that will allow reading of the tanks gauge remotely from anywhere. The hydrostatic test is outstanding as we strive to source the city water to supply the tanks.

The Cargo Lines

There will be two cargo lines running straight from the port jetty where the vessels discharge the imported petroleum products to the terminal tanks. One line for in-coming imported cargo and the second for exporting cargo. This implies that the terminal will be able to receive from vessels and deliver to vessels offshore as well – each tank is designed for products in-take and delivery to the gantry and pump backwards with the support of our high-power products pumps.

Due to the heavy down pour of rains in the rainy season, the contractors experienced delay in the civil works on site. Starting October 2022, the engineers will be working day and night to ensure the site is ready for operations by end of December 2022.

Operations Office and Utility Building

The terminal will feature a two-stories building for the terminal operators: terminal manager, guagers, inspectors, health safety officers, dispatchers, stock analysts, record room etc…  and utility building for: the products and fire pumps, control room, power generator and panel room etc…

Kissy Terminal

Thanks to the country Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mohammed Turay and Baord Chairman, Mr. Siaka Toure, Aminata Sierra Leone has completed all agreements with the Government of Sierra Leone and Conex Energy (SL) Limited to renovate and exclusively manage and operate Kissy tanks 2 and 8 (Approximately) 5,000 metric tons capacity each for the storage and distribute of its petroleum products – Gasoline and Diesel. The company has procured all materials and equipment needed for the renovation of the tanks and has reached an agreement AEMS SARL, a Guinean Terminal Construction Firm for the rehabilitation of the Kissy Tanks. The rehabilitation works are expected to commence in November 2022 as soon as the materials and equipment are delivered to Freetown.

Aminata Sierra Leone is striving to serve its customers throughout Sierra Leone better and for that we are constructing our filing station outlets right across the country which will feature the most recent efficient pumping machines and a standard minimarket for an urgent onsite shopping needs. The company is rolling out its first sets of filing stations across Sierra Leone. We are happy to introduce our Kerry Town filing station site around the Peninsula Highway.

Aminata Sierra Leone is actively completing its extra-modern fuel storage facility at Cline Town. Once completed, the company will boast of one of the best petroleum storage terminal in the country. The facility will include Two storage tanks which will store 10,000 tons of its imported Diesel. This cannot be achieved without the abled efforts of the CEO, Mr. Mohamed S. Turay, and the construction team including the Engineers.

As the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) Sierra Leone is making the downstream petroleum sector of Sierra Leone a compelling place to invest, Aminata Sierra Leone gets its provisional petroleum license to enable the company starts operations in the importation of petroleum products in the downstream petroleum sector of Sierra Leone having completed the fundamental requirements set out by the agency.