The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has fined Sethi Ferro Fabrik US$5,000 and ordered the company to meet strict safety requirements before reopening its oxygen plant.
The fine follows an explosion at the factory’s oxygen plant on February 17, 2025, which resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Saah J Samukai, an employee of the company. The Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Emmanuel K Urey Yarkpawolo made the disclosure at a press conference during the weekend in Monrovia.
Mr. Yarkpawolo said the EPA immediately shut down the factory after the explosion and launched an investigation On February 18, 2025, mentioning a high-level delegation led by Deputy Executive Director Hon Dweh S Boley visited the site for a preliminary assessment and their initial report pointed to serious safety violations prompting the EPA to issue a halt order on February 19, 2025, stopping all operations of the company.
It can be recalled that on February 20, 2025, Dr. Yarkpawolo along with senior government officials including the Inspector General of Police and the Liberia National Fire Service Chief toured the plant where they were received by the Executive Officer of Sethi Group of Companies.
The EPA Executive Director stressed that a full investigation found major safety lapses including no fire safety measures, no emergency preparedness plans, improper storage of oxygen tanks, expired environmental permits and the use of rusted and corroded compressed gas cylinders.
“As a result, the EPA has ordered the company to renew all expired permits, implement fire safety measures, properly label and store oxygen tanks, provide regular health and safety training for workers and hire an independent environmental consultant for a safety audit,” Dr. Yarkpawolo added.
The US$5000 fine, according to Dr. Yarkpawolo, must be paid to the Liberia Revenue Authority within seventy-two hours. Additionally, he said the company must pay one thousand two hundred sixty-three United States dollars for a temporary permit allowing it to resume operations while completing safety audits.
The EPA Boss acknowledged that the oxygen plant has been supplying free medical oxygen to hospitals in Montserrado County since the COVID-19 pandemic Health authorities at the Ministry of Health have verified this claim.
He stressed, in order to prevent disruptions in the supply of life-saving oxygen, the EPA will issue a temporary ninety-day permit once the fine and permit fee are paid during this period the company must fully comply with all safety requirements.
Dr Yarkpawolo reaffirmed the EPA’s commitment to ensuring workplace safety and environmental compliance in all industries in the country, emphasizing that the EPA will conduct follow-up assessments to ensure Sethi Ferro Fabrik meets all conditions before granting a full permit.
