Brima M Baluwa Koroma

Profile 
Mr. Brima Baluwa Koroma is the Director General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) in Sierra Leone. Under his leadership, the NPRA grants license and regulates all downstream petroleum activities, including importation, storage, distribution, refinery operations, retail, transportation,  bunkering, and pricing. The sector has witnessed visibility and attracted investors. 
Professional Background 
Prior to his current role, Brima Baluwa Koroma served as Chief Finance Officer at Safecon Petroleum, a former Shell plc franchise for 8 years, at Safecon, he demonstrated astute financial leadership, managing a turnover of USD 23 million, Safecon Petroleum was consistently recognized as the second-largest downstream operator in Sierra Leone. 
His extensive financial expertise was earlier honed at Standard Chartered Bank. In Shanghai, he was Director of Fixed Income Sales, focusing on the Africa-China trade corridor and managing over USD 500 million in regional trade flows. Later, as Director of Global Corporate Sales at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong, where he managed a net open position of USD 72 million in Bank Treasury Products. 
Transformative Leadership at PRA 
Since assuming leadership at PRA, Baluwa Koroma has implemented a series of progressive reforms, transforming the agency into a major contributor to domestic revenue in Sierra Leone. His initiatives have led to a 128% increase in government revenue over five years, reaching NLe1.2 million, with an impressive compliance rate increase of approximately 85%.  
Among the key policy objectives are to take leadership in opening up the market space, restore fairness in the industry for all operators that will increase sector efficiency and transparency and to focus on initiatives that will develop the petroleum industry infrastructure particularly storage, additional terminals and maintaining Strategic government petroleum stock. 
To ensure compliance to the petroleum laws and tax commitments in all regulated activities for the greater benefit of all Sierra Leoneans. 
Mr. Koroma has been instrumental in opening up the petroleum market to more players, making it an attractive and compelling place for investment. His efforts have resulted in growth in number of operators, 95% growth in petroleum storage to 278,000 metric tons and 30% jump in importation in five years.. 
Experience and Expertise 
With over 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and more than 8 years in whole-sales banking at Standard Chartered Bank, Baluwa Koroma had held executive positions in various treasuries across Africa and Asia, including The Gambia, Ghana, Tanzania, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. 
Future Vision 
Under Baluwa Koroma’a guidance, the Agency has transformed into Authority with enforcement mandate. He is poised to introduce further reforms aimed at migrating best commercial practices to protect public interests and attracts investors.  
His vision for the future includes the sustainable growth of the petroleum sector focusing on additional fuel storage terminals, government strategic stock management and regional hub for ECOWAS States.