By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has announced revisions to the standards and requirements for the construction and commissioning of fuel service stations in the country.
Speaking to journalists in Blantyre on Thursday, MERA Consumer Affairs and Public Relations Manager,Fitina Khonje said the changes aim to ease entry into the business and increase access to fuel service stations for consumers.
She said the revised standards include reducing the required distance between service stations from 1 kilometer to 500 meters and decreasing the plot size from 3500 square meters to 2500 square meters.
Said Khonje:”This move aims to make land allocation more efficient, as land is a scarce resource in Malawi.”
She emphasized that MERA’s goal is to balance business interests with consumer needs, ensuring that investors can operate efficiently while consumers have easy access to fuel service stations.
Khonje also announced that the regulatory body has developed an online assessment tool to facilitate the application process, allowing prospective developers to check if their land meets the requirements before proceeding with other approvals.
Regarding concerns about existing service stations that may not meet the revised standards, Khonje explained that MERA will ensure safety measures are strictly adhered to and enhance requirements for safety at these stations.
“New applicants will be required to meet the revised guidelines and standards.
“To address disparities in business entry between urban and rural areas, MERA has implemented flexible guidelines for investing in rural areas, including containerized investments with less stringent requirements.
“This move aims to increase access to fuel service stations in rural areas and promote economic development.
“As MERA continues to promote sustainable energy development and reduce Malawi’s reliance on imported energy solutions, these revised standards and guidelines are expected to create a more conducive business environment and increase access to fuel service stations for consumers,” she said.
On his part,Traffic and Roads Safety Engineer at the Roads Authority Malawi,Aubrey Elliot Nyanga, hailed the introduction of an online assessment tool saying it is a significant step forward.
“It is quite nice, because it will help in the efficiency, as well as the time reduction that is taken forward to travel from their location where they would like to develop, to go to site, do an inspection and have a clear view of how their site is going to be like, whether it’s accessible or not,” said Nyanga.
He added:”The new process is expected to enhance efficiency and reduce the time taken to process applications.It will also enable developers to get a clearer view of their proposed site, including its accessibility, before proceeding with their application.
“This will be particularly beneficial for applications related to the development of filling stations and other roadside facilities.”
