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# Malawi fertilizer plant wins approval after weeks of safety review

Publication Date: 20.07.2026, 11:00

Malawi's environment regulator cleared the Mulalo Granular fertilizer plant to open, a step toward cutting the country's reliance on imports.

Malawi's environment regulator has cleared the Mulalo Granular fertilizer plant to begin operations, ending weeks of delay over safety and pollution concerns and moving the country a step closer to producing crop nutrients domestically.

The Malawi Environment Protection Authority approved the start of production at the plant in Mchemela, Dowa District, after confirming the company had met environmental requirements and filed an acceptable environmental management plan, according to World Fertilizer. The facility is owned by businessman Napoleon Dzombe.

The clearance follows public debate over the delayed launch. Parliament had convened a committee to examine what was holding back the factory, while the regulator flagged the risk of heavy-metal exposure for nearby communities, gaps in emergency safety preparedness, and the plant's proximity to the Kang'ona River, where inadequate wastewater management could threaten downstream water users and aquatic life.

Local fertilizer output is a priority for Malawi, where farming is dominated by smallholders and fertilizer supply depends heavily on imports paid for in scarce foreign currency. Domestic production could ease that pressure and shorten supply lines into rural growing areas, though the plant's capacity and product mix have not been disclosed. The approval lands as African producers press ahead with a wave of new capacity, from [Dangote's multibillion-dollar expansion](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260619-afc-commits-600-million-to-support-dangotes-7-billion-fertilizer-expansion-across-africa/) to smaller domestic plants aimed at import substitution.

Source: [World Fertilizer](https://www.worldfertilizer.com/environment/17072026/malawi-fertilizer-plant-gets-green-light/)

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## What to know about the Malawi fertilizer plant

### Who approved the plant and when?+

The Malawi Environment Protection Authority approved the start of operations, as reported on July 17, 2026, after confirming the company satisfied environmental requirements and submitted an acceptable environmental management plan.

### Where is the plant and who owns it?+

It is in Mchemela, Dowa District, in central Malawi, and is owned by businessman Napoleon Dzombe under the company Mulalo Granular.

### Why was the launch delayed?+

The regulator raised concerns about possible heavy-metal exposure for local communities, insufficient emergency safety preparedness, and the plant's location near the Kang'ona River, where poor wastewater management could pollute the water source. Parliament set up a committee to investigate the holdup.

### Why does domestic fertilizer production matter for Malawi?+

Malawi's agriculture is smallholder-based and heavily dependent on imported fertilizer bought with scarce foreign currency. Local production could reduce import reliance, shorten supply chains, and support the farm sector.

### What is still unknown?+

The plant's production capacity, its product range, and the timeline to reach full output have not been disclosed.