On Monday, January 5, 2026, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mohammed Barrie, paid a courtesy call on Saudi Deputy Minister of Energy, H.E. Dr Nasser Aldossary, to discuss a bilateral partnership aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s energy sector. The meeting focused on opportunities for cooperation in petroleum and renewable energy, technical assistance, and potential Saudi investment to increase Sierra Leone’s energy capacity and ensure long-term supplies.
Ambassador Barrie conveyed warm greetings from His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, as well as the government and people of Sierra Leone, emphasising the importance of strengthening long-standing bilateral ties. “Your Excellency, I see a synergy between your country and mine, and it is against this backdrop that I am here with my team to explore how Sierra Leone can collaborate with Saudi Arabia in energy and the renewable sector, as well as how your country can assist in significant investment to expand our country’s energy capacity and secure sustainable energy sources,” he said.
During the meeting, Ambassador Barrie presented the Saudi deputy minister with the Bilateral Business Proposal from the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA). He explained that the idea for Saudi collaboration arose during the World Council Energy Youth Forum in Riyadh in October 2025, where the NPRA was encouraged to pursue bilateral business agreements with the Saudi Ministry of Energy. The ambassador’s proposal calls for the construction of a petroleum storage tank and the establishment of a strategic petroleum reserve in Sierra Leone’s petroleum sector.
The Sierra Leonean envoy also stated that a series of offshore explorations indicate that the country may have significant oil and gas resources, with potential crude oil reserves estimated at around 30 billion barrels. He framed these findings as an impetus for building the infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and human capacity required to responsibly manage hydrocarbon resources while also advancing renewable energy goals.
Dr Nasser Aldossary responded to the presentation by thanking Ambassador Barrie and his delegation for their visit and expressing enthusiasm for the proposal. “Your Excellency, I am overjoyed with the proposal you have presented,” the deputy minister said. He outlined a practical plan for moving the initiative forward, urging Ambassador Barrie to work with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy to form a national technical team while his ministry mobilises technical experts in the Kingdom. These efforts would result in the formation of a joint technical team tasked with identifying priority opportunities and technical requirements before guiding the negotiation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries.
Key outcomes and areas of cooperation discussed during the engagement include the establishment of a strategic petroleum stock or reserve for Sierra Leone, the provision of seed stock or capital support for a Sierra Petroleum Company to handle refined products, technical assistance for personnel training and staff development throughout the petroleum value chain, and the identification of focal point persons in both countries to coordinate the oil and gas project. The possibility of a Memorandum of Understanding on renewable energy cooperation was also discussed, in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s emphasis on energy diversification and sustainable projects.
The Saudi deputy minister’s proposal to establish intergovernmental technical teams represents a phased, technical-first approach that prioritises assessments, capacity building, and detailed planning before moving on to formal agreements and investment commitments. Both delegations appear to favour this methodical approach as a way to ensure clarity on regulatory, operational, and commercial issues before launching major initiatives.
Ambassador Barrie was joined at the meeting by the Acting Head of Chancery, Counsellor Victor Mohamed Kamara, and the Embassy’s Information Attaché, Alhaji Abubakarr Bah. The engagement is a significant diplomatic step as Sierra Leone looks to leverage emerging hydrocarbon prospects and renewable energy development through strategic foreign partnerships. Follow-up actions include coordinating respective technical teams, designating focal points, and working toward an MOU that will formalise cooperation and establish timelines for studies, training, and infrastructure development.
