By Haddy Touray
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) says its Fuel Integrity Marking Solution is helping restore confidence and strengthen oversight in the country’s petroleum sector.
For years, fuel smuggling and under-declaration eroded public revenue, distorted competition, and undermined trust in the supply chain. Since the system’s rollout last year, authorities say the situation is improving.
Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe said the solution has closed long-standing loopholes that previously enabled illicit trade. “Before this solution, revenue losses in the petroleum sector were enormous due to smuggling and under-declaration,” Darboe said. “Today, we are securing revenue while ensuring fairness for compliant fuel importers.”
Implemented in partnership with SICPA Gambia, the system works like a “DNA trace” for fuel. Each litre is marked with a unique chemical identifier that cannot be removed or altered, allowing verification at any point along the supply chain—from depots to retail stations.
GRA enforcement teams equipped with mobile analysers conduct routine and surprise inspections. Samples are tested on-site, with deviations in marker concentration immediately flagging adulteration or smuggling.
At a retail station in Lamin, mobile laboratory technician Foday Ceesay described the process as precise and efficient. “We begin by confirming the volume supplied, then collect samples directly from the pumps for instant testing,” he said. “Within minutes, we can determine whether the fuel is compliant.”
SICPA Gambia General Manager Momodou Clark Jarra said the technology restores trust across the sector. “This solution creates confidence for the government, fuel operators, and consumers that the fuel they are buying is legitimate and properly regulated,” he said.
The programme has drawn regional interest. A high-level delegation from Sierra Leone’s National Revenue Authority recently visited Banjul to study The Gambia’s approach to fuel compliance.
Authorities say the initiative demonstrates how technology-driven oversight can safeguard public revenue, promote fair competition, and strengthen transparency in the petroleum market.