By Adama Makasuba
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of The Gambia has received a delegation from the National Petroleum Office (ONAP) of Mali, to harmonise standards initiatives. The delegation is on a week working visit to The Gambia.
The visit is expected to strengthen partnership with Gambian authorities. Expectantly, to enter into harmonise standards initiatives, promote non-technical barriers, encourage sharing of market information as a graceful move to strengthen ECOWAS free trade protocol and nationalism spirit.
Speaking at the PURA Secretariat along Kairaba Avenue, Mr. Solo Sima, Director of Consumer Affairs who represented the Director General of PURA welcomed the Malian delegation to The Gambia.
He indicated that ONAP visit would not only strengthen partnership at an institutional level, but it will further help to share experiences as regulators and industry actors to harmonise efforts and standards.
The purpose of the visit, according to Mr. Sima is to discuss ways and means of bilaterally enhancing export of petroleum products between Mali and The Gambia.
For his part, Mr. Issa Kondo, Director General of ONAP who double as the head of the Malian delegation to The Gambia expressed profound confidence that the visit to The Gambia will greatly help to build relationship in the area of petroleum.
“We’re hopeful that at the end of this meeting our relationship will profoundly improve, “Mr. Issa Kondo, the head of the Malian delegation to The Gambia said.
He expressed that the relationship would be a mutual benefit to both parties.
Mr. Momodou Lamin Sompo Ceesay, Director of Petroleum, Water and Energy PURA stated that the visit of Malian counterparts has huge benefits to offer to both parties, adding that it has the potentials to enhance employment and investment opportunities in the petroleum.
About ONAP
The National Petroleum Office (ONAP) of Mali is a public Limited Company placed under the administrative supervision of the Malian Ministry of Hydrocarbons.
Its mission is to design, develop, implement and monitor Government policy in the policy of hydrocarbons both upstream and downstream.
About PURA
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of The Gambia is an independent multi-sector regulatory agency established and empowered under the PURA Act 2001 to regulate sectors such as Broadcasting, Electricity, Telecommunications, Petroleum, Transportation, Post, Water and Sewage.
Specifically, the Petroleum Products 2016 and its Regulations mandates PURA to regulate the entire petroleum sector. Since 2017, PURA has processed and recommended for the issuance more than 20 retail and 30 Re-Export Licenses to promote the expansion of the sector. Currently more than 12 fuel stations are being constructed creating employment for both skilled and un-skilled labours.
Petroleum Exports positions The Gambia as a regional petroleum