Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) says it has launched an investigation into reports that a petroleum vessel allegedly rejected at the Port of Dakar in Senegal is heading to The Gambia to discharge its cargo.
In a media statement issued on Friday, PURA said it was aware of reports circulating on various online media platforms concerning a vessel said to have been turned away from Dakar and bound for the Port of Banjul.
The regulator said it was taking the matter seriously and had begun working with key institutions and international partners to establish the facts surrounding the vessel and the quality of its cargo.
“PURA takes these reports seriously and is actively investigating the matter,” the authority said, adding that it is collaborating with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines, the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), fuel depot operators; and international partners as part of the inquiry.
The statement follows growing public concern over reports that a tanker carrying diesel allegedly rejected in Senegal was approaching Gambian waters. Earlier reports identified the vessel as the YASA ORION, a Marshall Islands-flagged oil and chemical tanker, although authorities have not publicly confirmed whether that vessel is the subject of the ongoing investigation.
The reports raised fears that fuel considered unsuitable for the Senegalese market could potentially enter The Gambia’s supply chain, prompting calls for regulatory scrutiny and transparency.
PURA sought to reassure the public that no petroleum product would be allowed into the domestic market without meeting the country’s regulatory requirements.
“As the regulatory body mandated to oversee the petroleum downstream sector in The Gambia, PURA remains strongly committed to ensuring that all petroleum products entering the country strictly adhere to established national standards of safety, quality, and environmental compliance,” the authority said.
The regulator further stressed that it would not compromise on consumer safety or the integrity of the country’s fuel distribution system.
The issue comes amid heightened public sensitivity over fuel quality and supply management, particularly given the strategic importance of petroleum imports to The Gambia’s economy. Any concerns regarding contaminated or substandard fuel can have significant implications for transport, electricity generation, industrial operations, and consumer confidence.
PURA urged the public to remain calm and avoid speculation while investigations continue.
The authority said it is closely monitoring developments and will provide further updates once verified information becomes available.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to determine whether the allegations surrounding the vessel and its cargo are substantiated and whether any regulatory action will be required.
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