City and provincial governors have been ordered to pump the brakes on the construction of new petrol stations.

The mandate will restrict the number of locations where new filling stations can be built for “the sake of public order and safety”, a Ministry of Land Management spokesman said yesterday.

In a May 19 letter from Minister Chea Sophara, governors are ordered to create prohibited zones including those with unstable soil, too many existing stations or places simply deemed “unsuitable”.

“The station owner must attach neighbors’ consent [to construction] with thumbprints and should post a report of the construction plan,” the letter states.

Ministry spokesman Sophal Makra said the move followed comments to his office from several provincial and municipal governors, who wanted to tighten restrictions on new petrol stations in their jurisdictions.

Department of Mines and Energy chairman Ngy Bunly said the capital already employs these types of restrictions. “Our technical team visits and inspects locations before stations are allowed to be built.”