By Gladys Fred Kole
Central Equatoria State (CES) government has closed down 10 petrol stations in Juba.
The decision, made by the leadership after a thorough assessment, aims to ensure that fuel stations meet the necessary standards and are located in appropriate areas.
Mr. Angelo Daya, the State Security Advisor and Chairperson for Demolitions Committee, explained that a committee was formed to evaluate all fuel stations in the city council and Juba County.
Upon evaluation, he said it became apparent that certain petrol stations situated in residential areas were causing distress among the public.
The concerns raised resonated with the government, prompting decisive action.
“After the committee had accessed all the petrol stations, there were fifteen petrol stations that were listed, among the fifteen the five are the petrol stations that were given to meet the operating standards, the ten fuel stations were the ones closed for good so that they are reallocated to a good place. Actually, as I speak the ten petrol stations are currently closed. We closed them on Monday,” Daya told this outlet.
Daya mentioned that among the closed fuel stations, only one is owned by a national, indicating that the foreign-owned ones may operate through partnership agreements within the country.
He added that even the petrol station that has outstanding revenue taxes will remain closed until the payment is settled.
He pointed out that in many cases, individuals responsible for issuing licenses for these fuel stations act as intermediaries.
The process often bypasses proper assessment by engineers to determine the suitability of the location for a petrol station.
“You will realize that the letter will come direct from the national government to the ministry or city council or Juba County this already becomes a directive without the engineers to access whether it is an applicable area for a petrol station,” Daya said.
Daya highlighted the difference between the ample space allocated for petrol stations in other countries and the limited areas available in their local context.
This lack of space leads to stations being squeezed into small areas near residential zones, posing safety risks to residents.
The state government recently established committees to assess petrol stations that posed threats to human life, prompted by recent incidents of fuel fires. Concerns about unregulated fuel stations have also been raised by several officials.
Earlier this year, the country experienced fuel explosions in Gumbo (Juba) and Wau, Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State, destroying offices and vehicles.
These incidents further highlight the urgency of ensuring safety and regulation within the fuel station sector.