TWO years ago, the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) expressed concern over a spike in illegal fuel vendors and fuel stations.
MERA went on to intensify spot checks to ensure that offenders were held accountable and regulatory sanctions applied.
The authority added that construction of new service stations would now undergo tough scrutiny as a way of ensuring safety and quality service delivery in Malawi.
Under the newly introduced guidelines, MERA would bar construction of any fuel retail outlet if the proposed site is located within a one-kilometre radius from an existing operational service station unless there are exemptions.
The new law would also only allow construction of a service station 100 metres away from a public institution and/or a residential area.
Prior to that, a potential fuel station owner would identify their own preferential site and construct filling stations without following proper procedures and standards.
They would only engage MERA in applying for business operating licences.
In Nigeria, Osun State, 15 petrol stations were recently shut down for operating without licences.
Another 10 stations were also sealed off by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Osogbo field office, for being constructed on illegal sites.
DPR operations controller Ademola Makinde expressed concern over the proliferation of illegal fuel plants across the state.
He said during their investigations, they discovered that countless stations in Osogbo and Ilesha were operating within residential areas.
“We are not saying people should not do business but for them to do so, they have to follow the laid-down safety rules and regulations. Many of these illegal businesses are operating without valid licences and also within residential areas,” said Makinde. — Wires
