• LPRC becomes main fuel importer after months of supply shortages and price swings
• Gasoline prices rose from 680 to 830 Liberian dollars per gallon between January and July
• Private importers lose dominance as government moves to stabilize domestic fuel market

Liberia’s government has transferred control of fuel imports to the state-owned Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), aiming to end persistent fuel shortages and contain rising pump prices.

The move, made official on July 24, names the LPRC as the country’s primary fuel importer. Until now, companies like Conex Oil & Gas Holdings were the main players, having entered the market after TotalEnergies exited Liberia in 2020.

The government’s decision follows a sharp increase in local fuel prices. According to LPRC data, the price of gasoline rose from 680 Liberian dollars ($3.18) per gallon in January 2025 to 830 Liberian dollars ($3.88) in July, an increase of 22 % in six months. Officials say this spike reflects ongoing supply instability linked to the dominance of a few private importers operating without strategic reserves or coordination.

By centralizing imports under the LPRC, the government aims to restore stable supply flows and gain more control over fuel pricing. This marks a major shift in Liberia’s downstream oil sector, where private companies had previously operated without a formal regulatory framework.

Liberia, which lacks a domestic refinery, consumes more than 1 million liters of fuel each day, based on official estimates. Whether the LPRC can consistently meet national demand will be a key test for the new import structure.