EMA fines company over unlicensed fuel transport after Goderich avenue fire in Bulawayo

THE company where a blast caused by fuel tankers that led to extensive damage along Goderich Avenue in Bulawayo on Monday night, was operating without a licence to transport hazardous substances.

This was revealed by the Environmental Management Agency on Wednesday.

The blaze, which broke out at around 10.30 pm on January 26 at a premises opposite DA Garage along Goderich Avenue, destroyed at least vehicles, including fuel tankers, trucks and commuter omnibuses and spread into a neighbouring property as firefighters battled for more than three hours to bring it under control.

By the time the flames were subdued, two large fuel tankers, two medium tankers, five mini tankers and a Toyota Hiace had been completely destroyed, turning the fuel depot yard into a graveyard of burnt-out wreckage.

Speaking on the sidelines of the first meeting of the Bulawayo provincial Civil Protection Committee at Mhlahlandela Government Complex, Ms Sithembisiwe Ndlovu, the Bulawayo Provincial Environmental Manager for EMA, said the company was found on the wrong side of the law after investigations revealed it was operating without the required licence.
“We had an incident of a hazardous substance, which was diesel, being transported by a company, and a fire occurred. It was noted that the truck did not have a licence to transport hazardous substances,” said Ms Ndlovu.

She said EMA, as the regulatory authority, is mandated to license and monitor the transportation of hazardous substances to ensure public and environmental safety.
“Because they did not have the licence, an offence was committed, and we issued the company with a ticket so that they regulate their activities going forward, for the safety of everyone in the province and other areas they may be travelling through,” she said.

Ms Ndlovu also gave an update on the Mahatshula site, where a fuel-carrying truck was involved in an accident, resulting in petrol spilling into the environment.

She said emergency and regulatory processes were swiftly activated, with remaining fuel being removed from the containers to prevent further environmental damage.
“At the moment, all the processes have been done. The fuel that was left in the containers has been removed, and EMA is now working with the recovery department,” she said.

Ms Ndlovu added that the next phase involves applying chemicals to neutralise the spilt petrol, a process expected to be completed within a short timeframe.
“The application of the chemicals to neutralise the petrol will be done today and possibly up to tomorrow morning,” she said.