By Kidega Livingstone
Fifteen fuel stations in Juba have been closed down by Central Equatoria State government, following an order from governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony.
The state government had set up committees to conduct assessments to identify petrol stations that pose a threat to human life following case fuel fire.
Central Equatoria state Minister of Road and Bridges, Moses Mawa told journalists that the shutdown of the 15 fuel stations was based on the committees’ recommendations.
“We are here to close all the petrol stations that were recommended by the committee to be closed down. So far, we have closed fifteen stations,” he said.
The minister threatened that more fuel stations are likely to be shut down as the committees’ recommendation is still under study.
“We are going to do more. We are still reviewing the previous recommendation, and we are going to make sure that if there are other stations that are also confirmed to be dangerous to people life will face a closer face,” he added.
He warned that any petrol stations that are reopened without authorization will face consequences as per the government’s instructions.
Mawa advised the owners of closed petrol stations to reach out to government officials at the secretariats if they have any complaints or questions.
“As I speak, we have closed all the petrol stations that have been recommended to be closed,” he said.
This decision was prompted by the continuous erection of unregulated erection of fuel stations in Juba, most of them near residential areas.
As fuel trade has become a lucrative business, several investors have vastly embraced the sector, to the extent of scattering filling stations all over Juba, with some located next to residences.
Juba City Deputy Mayor for services, Thik Thiik Mayardit, a member of the committed had earlier said that placing filling stations near residences puts the lives of citizens at risk should there be fire outbreak.
On June 20, 2023, the National Fire Brigade and Bureau of Standards said they had formed a joint committee to probe petrol stations adjacent to residential areas.
Several officials have ever also raised concerns about the unregulated fuel stations.
Like the former CEO of National Bureau of Standards, Mary Gordon, who was alarmed over the increasing number of fuel stations, spreading all over the capital city and even to residential areas.
Mrs. Gordon estimated that over 130 filling stations have been spread all over Juba city.
The Undersecretary at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Joseph Africano Bartel, once tweeted on X, (formely Twitter) that the ongoing trend of petrol station construction in residential areas poses a safety threat to residents.
“Juba City Council should stop approving these constructions, or else they will be liable for any loss or damage,” he cautioned.
In some countries, the rule is that fuel stations must be at least 400 meters away from one another. But you see how filling stations are close