-Authority pushes back on claims that regulatory delays are blocking Mulalo factory; developer silent on nine-month gap in submissions
The approval of Napoleon Dzombe’s proposed Mulalo Granular Fertilizer Production Factory has stalled, but not because of government red tape—at least not according to the Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).
In a pointed statement issued Thursday, MEPA rejected suggestions that the Authority was responsible for delaying approval of the Dowa District project, instead placing the blame squarely on the developer for failing to promptly submit revised environmental documents.
“The developer has not yet submitted the revised ESIA report addressing the comments raised during the technical review process,” MEPA said in a June 4 statement.
“Consequently, the authority is unable to proceed with further consideration of the project until the revised report is submitted and assessed.”
The clarification comes after Dzombe—founder of Mtalimanja Holdings Limited—publicly stated that his fertilizer manufacturing plant could not begin operations because it lacked MEPA approval.
He reportedly said the facility was expected to start production in April but faced delays after the project’s initial environmental report was rejected.
According to the Authority, the project brief was submitted on March 24, 2025, and MEPA prepared its initial feedback by March 26, 2025—a turnaround of just two days. The developer collected this feedback on April 1, 2025.
But the preliminary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report wasn’t submitted until July 2, 2025—more than two months later. MEPA conducted an editorial review and provided comments by the end of July 2025, asking the developer to address these concerns before moving forward.
Then came the critical gap: the revised ESIA report was not resubmitted until March 2026—nine months after MEPA provided editorial feedback.
“During this period, the formal review process could not proceed because the revised report had not yet been submitted to the authority,” MEPA stated.
Once the revised report finally arrived in March 2026, MEPA moved quickly. The Authority initiated its formal technical review immediately, and the Technical Committee of the Board completed its assessment in May 2026—well within MEPA’s 60 working-day service standard.
“The documented timeline clearly demonstrates that MEPA processed all submissions within the prescribed timelines and that significant delays arose from factors outside the authority’s control,” the Authority said.
The Technical Committee has since sent its review comments back to the developer for incorporation into yet another revised report—which, as of Thursday’s statement, has not been submitted.
The stalled project represents a significant investment in Malawi’s agricultural sector. Dzombe’s fertilizer factory, if approved and completed, would contribute to the country’s efforts to boost agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on imported fertilizers.
However, environmental assessment is non-negotiable in Malawi. The Environmental Management Act (2017) requires rigorous ESIA reviews for large-scale industrial projects to evaluate potential impacts on land, water, air, and local communities.
MEPA said it “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 said it will continue processing the application “immediately” after the developer submits the revised ESIA report incorporating the Technical Committee’s May feedback.
There is no indication of when that submission might occur. MEPA has not commented on whether Dzombe has acknowledged the Authority’s timeline or responded to the claims about the nine-month delay.
