en.Wedoany.com Reported - Malawi's environmental regulator has approved the operation of the Mulalo Granular Fertilizer Plant, ending weeks of delays caused by safety and pollution concerns, marking progress in the country's efforts to achieve domestic production of crop nutrients.
The Malawi Environment Protection Authority approved the start of production at the plant located in Mchemela, Dowa District. The regulator granted approval after confirming that the company had met environmental requirements and submitted an acceptable environmental management plan. The plant is owned by businessman Napoleon Dzombe.
The approval followed a public debate surrounding the delayed launch. Parliament had convened a committee to investigate the reasons behind the delay. The regulator identified issues at the plant, including risks of heavy metal exposure for nearby communities, gaps in emergency safety preparedness, and the plant's proximity to the Kang’ona River—where poor wastewater management could threaten downstream water users and aquatic life.
Local fertilizer production is a priority for Malawi. The country's agriculture is dominated by smallholder farmers, and fertilizer supply relies heavily on imports, which require scarce foreign currency. Domestic production helps alleviate this pressure and shortens the supply chain to rural farming areas, although the plant's capacity and product mix have not yet been disclosed. This approval comes amid a wave of new capacity expansions by African producers, ranging from Dangote's multi-billion-dollar expansion projects to smaller domestic plants aimed at replacing imports.
