The Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has approved the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the proposed Mulalo Granular Fertilizer Production Factory in Mchemela, Dowa District, clearing the way for implementation of the project under strict environmental conditions.
The approval was announced in a press release Thursday,16th July 2026, following months of technical review and revisions.
According to MEPA, the ESIA report was first reviewed by the Technical Committee of the Board in May 2026 but was referred back to the developer due to critical risk factors.
The concerns raised at the time focused on environmental monitoring, emergency response measures, and the management of hazardous solid waste and wastewater.
MEPA noted that without proper safeguards, these gaps could pose serious health risks to surrounding communities.
The Authority warned that inadequate controls could lead to cancer, kidney and liver damage, reproductive effects, other organ failure, and even death for people in the project area and downstream users. It said these issues had to be fully addressed before the project could proceed.
The developer resubmitted a revised ESIA report on 17th June 2026. The Technical Committee of the Board assessed it on 26th June 2026 and found the proposed mitigation measures and changes to project and process design to be satisfactory.
The Committee then recommended the report to the Board for final review and approval.
On 14th July 2026, the Authority Board sat and considered five ESIA reports, including the Mulalo project. All five were approved in accordance with Section 9 (2) (f) of the Environmental Management Act of 2017. The Mulalo fertilizer manufacturing project will now be implemented strictly in line with the approved ESIA Report, Environmental and Social Management Plan, and Environmental and Social Monitoring Plan.
“The Authority remains committed to ensuring that all development projects are processed in a timely, transparent, and professional manner while safeguarding environmental sustainability and compliance with Malawi’s environmental laws and standards,” MEPA stated in the release.
The Authority also clarified that any significant changes to project design, production capacity, technology, or site layout will require prior written approval.
With approval granted, attention now shifts to implementation and monitoring in Mchemela. MEPA says it will oversee the project to ensure that commitments made during the ESIA process are honored and that environmental protection remains central as Malawi seeks to expand local fertilizer production.
