Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) has temporarily shut down six fuel stations across the country as part of the ongoing nationwide compliance monitoring and enforcement operation aimed at tightening safety and environmental standards for the petroleum sector.
In a statement issued this morning, BERA said the operation, which began in May 2026, is being conducted under provisions of the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority Act and seeks to ensure that filling stations adhere to regulatory requirements and license conditions.
According to the regulator, inspections uncovered several serious breaches, prompting immediate closure of the affected facilities. Among the violations identified were environmental protection breaches, lack of or non-functional oil water separators, failure to comply with technical and operational standards, absence of leak monitoring wells, inadequate fire protection systems, and lack of appropriately trained personnel.
“These requirements form part of the mandatory operational standards and license conditions that all petroleum retail facilities are required to meet in order to safeguard public safety, protect the environment, and ensure the integrity of petroleum infrastructure,” BERA said.
The affected filling stations include Engen in Tlokweng along the A12 road, TotalEnergies in Metlojane, Cooperative Society Filling Station in Goodhope, and Shell filling stations in Sikwane and Lobatse.
BERA emphasised that the closures did not come without warning, noting that the operators had previously been inspected and informed of their shortcomings. “The affected licensees were previously inspected and made aware of the non-compliance. Inspection reports were issued, and reasonable timeframes were provided to enable operators to address identified deficiencies,” BERA said.
Furthermore, BERA said the temporary closures are meant to compel operators to meet minimum safety, environmental, and operational standards, adding that the facilities will be allowed to reopen once all identified issues have been resolved.
The authority has warned that the compliance search is ongoing, with more inspections expected across the country as it intensifies efforts to protect consumers, communities, and the environment.
