Moratorium Placed on the Construction of Gas Stations Nationwide

Moratorium Placed on the Construction of Gas Stations Nationwide

The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) officially announces an immediate and nationwide moratorium on the construction of all new gas stations.

This measure is necessitated to address the significant proliferation of unregistered and unauthorised gas stations, which currently operate in violation of established suitability guidelines, safety policies, and fair trade practices.

Consequently, all existing and pending applications for the construction of gas stations are hereby declared null and void by the Authority.

All unregistered gas stations currently under construction must cease operations immediately.

During the period of this suspension, the Authority will not accept, review, or approve any application seeking permission to construct a gas station.

The moratorium will facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of compliance with existing guidelines, with a particular focus on ensuring proper separation distances from public facilities, including but not limited to residential areas, educational institutions, religious centres, health-care facilities, swamps, rights-of-way, and entertainment venues.

Any violation of this directive concerning new construction will be deemed illegal and will be subject to proportionate enforcement actions.

This moratorium is implemented in the public interest. Construction firms, Oil Marketing Companies, and dealers are strongly advised to fully comply with this directive to avoid consequential actions.