Sunday April 27, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has officially begun enforcing a national fuel regulation to improve product quality and stabilize the country’s petroleum market.
The Downstream Petroleum Regulation, numbered Lr.120 and issued on March 30, 2023, requires that all imported fuel and petroleum products sold at local service stations meet strict national quality standards. The ministry announced Sunday that the regulation, now fully in effect, targets fuel importers, distributors, and service station operators nationwide.
Under the regulation, the Ministry of Petroleum, working alongside the Somali Quality Assurance Authority, is responsible for inspecting fuel shipments, licensing businesses, and monitoring compliance with approved benchmarks. Petroleum businesses must now obtain official licenses and undergo quality inspections before distributing or retailing fuel within Somalia.
“The enforcement of these standards is critical to protecting consumers, enhancing market stability, and supporting the country’s economic recovery,” the ministry said in a statement. Officials emphasized that compliance efforts will be carried out in collaboration with other government agencies.
The ministry urged businesses in the petroleum sector to fully cooperate with inspections and licensing requirements, warning that non-compliance could result in penalties.