Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has assured the public of continued availability of fuel, stating that the country is importing sufficient fuel stocks to meet national demand.
In a statement at the weekend, Mera said stakeholders in the fuel supply chain are dedicated to ensuring that the country is well-supplied with fuel, which is crucial for economic activities and daily life.
fuel supplies. | Courtesy of Mera
Reads the statement in part: “Importers have been loading fuel from both the ports of Beira [Mozambique] and Dar es Salaam, in addition to volumes lifted from Tanga [Port in Tanzania].
“In light of this, Mera does not anticipate fuel shortages. Therefore, we encourage the public to disregard any misleading information regarding purported impending fuel shortages.”
It further said currently, a government team led by Ministry of Energy Principal Secretary Alfonso Chikuni is negotiating with fuel suppliers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement.
“The delegation has had successful meetings with Aramco of Saudi Arabia, Adnoc of UAE [Abu Dhabi], Enoc of Dubai, UAE, OQT of Oman.
“The discussions aim to establish government-to-government cooperation on fuel supply arrangements for Malawi,” the Mera statement adds.
Through the Kenya G2G arrangement, Malawi procured 40 000 metric tonnes or about 51.5 million litres of both diesel and petrol, with the first tanker arriving at Songwe Border on January 4 2025.
In an interview last week, National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) spokesperson Raymond Likambale stated that they expect another vessel to dock at Tanga soon.
He further assured of a steady fuel supply as all traditional suppliers under the open tender arrangement are loading fuel.
“Malawians should be aware that all our suppliers are loading and continue to do so. We are not solely relying on Tanga Port volumes, as our traditional suppliers are also providing products to us.
“While the finalisation of the G2G agreement with the UAE is in progress and at an advanced stage, our suppliers are still bringing in supplies until everything is in place. Engagements with transporters are already underway to ensure a seamless start when the next vessel arrives,” he said.
Nocma data indicates that Malawi consumes 1.05 million litres of diesel and petrol each per day.
According to the Reserve Bank of Malawi, the country spends $600 million (about K1 trillion) on fuel importation annually, requiring a total of $3 billion to meet its import needs.
