Construction of fuel reserves set for October

National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) deputy chief executive officer Hellen Buluma says construction works of additional strategic fuel reserves are scheduled to start in October this year.

The facilities are expected to store additional 60 million litres—20 million litres in Mzuzu, 20 million litres in Lilongwe and the other 20 million litres in Blantyre. This will push up fuel reserves to 120 million litres.

Initially, construction works were expected to start in April 2022.

Buluma said in an interview on Thursday that Nocma is in the process of identifying contractors.

The project is pegged at K18 billion, she said.

“We have already done the designs and civil works. The project will run concurrently [in the three cities] and is expected to be completed in December 2024.”

Buluma said Nocma is in the process of securing loans from development partners for the project.

While speaking during his visit to Nocma’s strategic fuel reserves at Sonda in Mzuzu, Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola said it was critical to have additional fuel reserves because the demand for fuel is increasing.

He asked Nocma to consider constructing disability friendly buildings.

Said Matola: “I have visited their modern facilities and noticed that the structures are not disability friendly.

“We have agreed with their leadership that the buildings should be modified.”

He further said his ministry is lobbying for government buildings to have solar energy to complement hydro power.

In her response, Buluma said Nocma has taken note of the concerns and the next project will be inclusive. Blantyre and Lilongwe reserves have a capacity of 25 million litres each while Mzuzu reserves hold 10 million litres.