Fuel tanker burst up in flames in the Gumbo-Rejaf road. (-)

Central Equatoria government resolved for the second time to review the safety standard of petrol stations built in residential areas of Juba on Monday, hours after a fuel tanker caught fire near a fuel station in the Gumbo area.

Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony and Juba City Mayor Flora Gabriel Modi convened a meeting this morning on the random construction of Petrol Stations without Legal documents.

The meeting comes just after a fuel tanker burst up in flames on Gumbo-Rejaf East Road, sending plumes of smoke in the sky.

Terrified residents recount hearing loud bangs at 10 PM on Sunday as the fire lit up the sky before water tankers rushed to the scene and put off the fire.

The state Security Advisor, Angelo Daya, said a committee formed by the Governor Adil will revisit and identify the petrol stations not suitable for residents.

“The meeting basically focused on five things, one is the issue of petrol stations being built without proper documentation within the city council,” Daya said.

“The resolution say the committee that was formed by the Governor will revisit and identify the petrol stations that are not safely located because of the residents.”

Daya said plot owners are advised to avoid hiring or signing agreements with fuel investors to build petrol stations.

“Also, those who hired their own places to the companies that erect petrol stations are advised from now onwards not to do and should not have any agreement. The government of Central Equatoria and the City Council will identify those areas and guide the notification.”

Governor Adil first formed the committee in December 2023 to assess all petrol stations being constructed in Juba and shutdown those that do not meet the required safety standards.

This comes after a national legislator raised concerns at a sitting over allegations of rising number of fuel stations that are constructed even in heavily populated residential areas.

In February, a Juba City Council official said the state government will soon shutdown a number of petrol stations that do not meet the required safety standards.