This dissertation, entitled "Optimizing petroleum distribution: managing operational risks for safety, sustainability and efficiency (the case of Société Gabonaise d'Entreposage de Produits Pétroliers)", focuses on exploring how the application of advanced operational risk management strategies can help optimize the distribution and/or storage of petroleum products, while ensuring safety, sustainability and operational efficiency. Our study focuses on the importance of applying advanced operational risk management strategies. We show how this application of strategies links effectiveness and efficiency for optimization in the distribution of petroleum products. We demonstrate, in this context, how operational results are sustainably and effectively achieved. Our hypothesis states that the implementation of advanced risk management strategy in the operational administration of oil depots is a solution to the objectives of safety, sustainability and efficiency.