NEMA moves anti-littering operation to fuel stations

NEMA executive director Berirega Akankwasah, in a statement, said that effective 1st May 2023, the authority will start enforcing physical planning regulations of fuel stations. She said the stations will be evaluated for environmental and social impact, audits and extension requests.

NEMA spokesperson Naomi Karehako said the operation is a backup to avoid roadside littering by public transport vehicles.

“These trash bins at the fuel stations are a requirement by law and the essence is to help public transporters dump rubbish which would have filled the bins inside their vehicles. This will avoid roadside littering because they will be sure of a trash bin at the nearby fuel station,” she said.

According to Anthony Ogalo, the general manager of the Association of Petroleum Marketing Professionals of Uganda (APMPU), all companies have individual responsibility to implement the environmental and other regulations as required by law, for the good of the business, and the country as a whole.

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“Everyone has to take responsibility for the environmental challenges of petroleum products, and that is what we are trying to bring to every dealer’s attention. The petroleum supply act guides members on what is expected of them. The NEMA regulations are the guidelines on what to do. The onus is on the player to play by what is given in the law, or else that face its consequences,” he told URN.

Meanwhile, a report from the Auditor General last month indicates that 1,773 fuel stations out of the 3,132 fuel stations in the country are in violation of required standards under the US 947-1:2019.

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The US 947-1:2019 standards require operators of fuel stations to meet certain requirements during design, building, and operations. The standards are aligned with reducing the risk of accidents and environmental harm.

The Ministry of Energy and Uganda Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) are tasked with enforcing the standards at the licensing and supervision levels. The Commissioner for petroleum supply at the Ministry of Energy, Rev. Frank Tukwasibwe on behalf of the Ministry said they would deliberate on the matter before addressing it.

“All fuel stations are required under regulation 10 (2) of physical planning (planning conditions for the location of fuel stations) regulation SI No. 31 of 2022, to have at least three well-labelled litter bins, for biodegradable, non-biodegradable and toxic waste, accessible to all travellers and motorists,” read part of the notice from NEMA.