Long-awaited Mulalo Fertilizer Company receives approval to proceed
The long-awaited Mulalo Fertilizer Company, owned by local investor Napoleon Dzombe, has been cleared to proceed with its investment after receiving approval from the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) Board through the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Misheck Munthali, confirmed the development on Wednesday after Dzombe appeared before a Joint Parliamentary Committee in Lilongwe.
Munthali described the approval as good news for the nation.
“I have good news for the nation. Yesterday, the Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed that the MEPA Board met to consider reports from several investors, including Mulalo Fertilizer Company in Dowa. I am pleased to announce that the Board has approved the investor to proceed with the investment process,” he said.»
He explained that Mulalo Fertilizer Company is among five investors interested in establishing fertilizer manufacturing plants in Malawi. The ministry has been assessing all the proposals based on technical recommendations and is now satisfied that they meet the required standards.
Munthali clarified that the delay in approving Mulalo Fertilizer Company resulted from the time the investor needed to fulfil the terms of reference and submit the required reports to MEPA, a process that took about nine months.
He emphasized that the ministry is committed to supporting both local and foreign investors without discrimination.
“We will continue engaging the media to demonstrate that we support both local and foreign investors equally. Health, safety and environmental concerns have been fully addressed,” he said.
Munthali added that the ministry will continue monitoring fertilizer manufacturing companies to ensure they remain fully compliant with environmental and safety regulations.
Speaking after the meeting, Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, Tiaone Hendry, said discussions with MEPA, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Mulalo Fertilizer Company had shown significant progress.
She expressed optimism that by next week there would be tangible developments that Malawians would appreciate.
Meanwhile, Mulalo Fertilizer Company investor Napoleon Dzombe said the company had initially planned to begin fertilizer production in April this year, but unforeseen challenges delayed the project.
Following the approval, Dzombe said the company has already started importing raw materials in preparation for production.
He, however, disclosed that the company’s land documents were misplaced and appealed to officials from the Ministry of Lands for assistance, expressing confidence that production could begin within the next 60 days once the matter is resolved.
