Fuel attendants graduate as ‘Change Agents’ in safety drive

MPOLOKENG THABANE

MASERU – A cohort of fuel attendants has graduated from a landmark national training programme, with authorities urging them to serve as “change agents” to revolutionise safety standards across the country’s petroleum sector.

The graduation marks the first major milestone in a structured skills development initiative implemented by the Petroleum Fund in partnership with the Institute of Development Management (IDM). The programme is designed to equip petrol attendants with certified, practical knowledge on safe fuel handling, emergency response, and regulatory compliance – areas that have long been identified as critical gaps in the country.

For years, Lesotho’s fuel retail sector has faced significant challenges related to unsafe practices, including the use of unapproved plastic containers for carrying fuel and a general lack of formalised training for frontline workers. Historically, the country relied on outsourcing training services from South Africa due to the absence of a local institution offering specialised petroleum handling qualifications.

Recognizing this void, the Petroleum Fund signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding with IDM to establish a localized training pipeline, beginning with an introductory course that graduated this week.

Addressing the graduates, Petroleum Fund Chief Executive, ‘Makananelo Kome, expressed deep gratitude for the participants’ commitment and challenged them to immediately apply their skills in the field.

“I stand before you with great gratitude for the journey you have undertaken. You have worked hard, and now the responsibility is yours to go back and share this knowledge with your colleagues,” Kome said.

“You must be the change agents. Practice what you have learned and help improve standards at your stations.”

The training programme goes beyond basic instruction, covering occupational safety, fuel stock management, pump dispensing procedures, and the mitigation of hazardous material risks. Crucially, it also includes first aid, fire safety drills, and emergency response protocols, reflecting a growing focus on reducing the risk of fires and fuel spills at filling stations.

Kome indicated that the programme will soon expand to target unemployed individuals seeking careers in fuel operations.

“With time, we will open opportunities for those who are not yet working at filling stations but are interested in this field,” she said.

The need for such professionalization is underscored by Lesotho’s rapid energy transition. A comprehensive needs assessment conducted by the Petroleum Fund previously revealed “poor Health and Safety Standards in the sale and distribution of products” as a major structural weakness. This challenge is compounded by issues such as the smuggling of petroleum products and fuel price manipulation, which the Fund is actively combating through recent partnerships with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service.

While Lesotho builds its domestic capacity, these efforts align with broader international safety guidelines. Global standards, such as those advanced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), increasingly mandate rigorous training for personnel handling volatile fuels. Guidelines for ships using fuels like LPG require specific competencies in pressure relief systems, leak detection, and emergency shutdown procedures – principles that are directly transferable to filling station operations.

By implementing a three-phase training framework (Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced), the Petroleum Fund is effectively harmonizing local practices with these international benchmarks.

The Petroleum Fund, established legally in 1997 following the dissolution of the apartheid-era Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Equalisation Fund, has a mandate that extends far beyond training. Its core mission is to enhance the security of fuel supply and stabilize prices during times of crisis. However, a delegated authority granted in 2021 expanded its reach to regulate fuel pricing and safety protocols.

“The Fund decided to push for filling stations to have certified workers,” Kome explained previously, noting that the levy collected by the Fund is being reinvested to finance this safety infrastructure. The donation of industrial jerry cans to all 90 filling stations to replace dangerous plastic containers is a tangible example of this safety drive.

While the graduation marks significant progress, participants argue that public awareness must catch up with professional standards. Pholiso Manamolela, a graduate from Online Motors, described the training as valuable but stressed the need for a broader impact.

“We have gained knowledge, but we also feel that the public needs to be educated,” Manamolela said.

“If there could be programmes on radio or television to educate people about fuel safety, it would make our work much easier.”

Facilitator, Matšeliso Tšoenyane praised the group for their engagement, noting the learning process was mutual. IDM Rector, Thibeli Molapo, echoed this, describing the classroom environment as excellent. “This was the basic course,” Molapo added. “We will be moving to the intermediate level and later to advanced filling station management.”

As the first cohort of “Agents of Change” returns to the pumps, the ultimate success of the initiative will depend on consistent application – and whether the public heeds the call for safer fuel practices.