BERA gives fuel stations a 3-month ultimatum

Retail service stations across Botswana have been given three months to address outstanding regulatory breaches or risk closure, suspension or revocation of their operating licences.

According to Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Pelaelo Kgomotso, routine inspections found a significant number of service stations with serious non-compliances.

The identified breaches include the absence of oil-spillage containment systems or oil-water separators, lack of leak-monitoring wells, inadequate or non-existent operational procedures, untrained staff, and failure to provide personal protective clothing to service station attendants.

Kgomotso warned that the non-compliances pose significant safety risks to both the public and workers and could contribute to environmental pollution, including contamination of underground and surface water sources.

The Authority is particularly concerned that some of the affected facilities had previously been inspected and had committed to addressing the identified shortcomings.

However, Kgomotso said that in some cases, as many as four years had passed without inspection findings being fully addressed.

As a result, BERA has in recent weeks taken enforcement action against non-compliant facilities, including the closure of some retail service stations across the country.

Kgomotso stated that all retail service stations are now required to address their outstanding non-compliances during the three months covering September, October and November 2026.

Failure to comply could result in further enforcement action, including closure of facilities, suspension of licences or revocation of licences in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Retailers have been urged to review previous inspection reports, conduct self-assessments and, where necessary, request voluntary inspections from BERA to identify and address outstanding compliance issues.

Meanwhile, BERA has announced workshops on Petroleum Compliance Requirements for September 15 in Jwaneng and September 17 in Francistown.