Malawi Environment Protection Authority (Mepa) has issued a closure order to Mount Meru Millers Malawi Limited for violations of the Environment Management Act.
The development follows routine industrial inspections on September 23 2024.
According to the order signed by Mepa director general Tawonga Mbale-Luka, Mount Meru Millers, located at Mgubo Village, Traditional Authority Nkukula along the M1 in Dowa, contravened Section 116 (1) of the Act.
It said Mepa inspectors discovered improper liquid waste disposal practices at the factory, which were attributed to a malfunctioning effluent treatment plant (ETP).
Mount Meru Millers chief executive officer Jignesh Patel confirmed the plant’s closure, saying they had some challenges that they were now fixing in partnership with officials from Dowa District Council.
He said: “We indeed had problems with our ETP, we are now working on extending it and we expect to fully finish the works which will lead us to having an additional functional ETP.”
He added that they are also working to contain dust pollution and intend to ensure they incinerate wastes at designated spots while addressing other issues raised in the order.
According to the order, inspectors observed that the company’s effluent was being indiscriminately dumped into unlined ponds across the site, allowing wastewater to seep into the environment.
“This practice poses a significant risk of groundwater pollution and violates both the Environment Management Act [2017] and the Water Resources Act [2013],” it reads in part.
It also further highlighted that the plant failed to control dust generated from heaps of fine coal and coal dust in the boiler area, leading to respiratory risks for workers and the local community.
“Solid waste, including plastics, sack bags, scrap metal, and rubble, was found scattered and uncovered around the site, posing an injury risk to workers.
Mepa board chairperson Robert Kafakoma said the closure was done with the approval of the board.
Reacting to the closure, environmental specialist Gresham Kamnyamata said the move was long overdue, adding industries are required to manage effluents sustainably to prevent environmental damage.
“When these effluents seep into the soil, they can disrupt biological processes and render the land unproductive,” he said.
In response to the violations, Mepa has ordered Mount Meru Millers to immediately clean up all the effluent that has been discharged indiscriminately, in accordance with the Environment Management Act (2017) and relevant waste management and sanitation regulations.
The company has also been instructed to engage experts to assess the capacity of its retention ponds and determine the efficiency of the ETP given the volume of waste produced, among other recommendations.
