Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has introduced financial rewards of up to K1.5 million for members of the public who provide information leading to the interception or recovery of illegally traded fuel.
In a public notice issued yesterday and signed by Mera chief executive officer Dad Chinthambi, the authority said the scheme targets illegal fuel trading, product hoarding, unauthorised storage, fuel diversion and hoarding at depots and service stations.
Mera said off-pump illegal activities have emerged as a particular obstacle to the fair distribution of and access to fuel.
“The [reward] system aims to improve detection of these activities, deter offenders, and strengthen consumer protection,” reads the statement.
Under the arrangement, informants can receive up to K1.5 million for reporting illegal fuel trading and unauthorised storage, depending on the volume of fuel intercepted or recovered.
Reports leading to the detection of fuel diversion and hoarding at depots or service stations attract rewards starting from K1.5 million.
However, rewards will only be paid where the information was not already known to Mera and, after verification, leads to the interception or recovery of fuel or exposes an organised illegal fuel network.
The initiative follows a joint warning by Mera and the Malawi Police Service on October 12, when the two institutions announced intensified nationwide enforcement operations against the illegal storage, transportation, distribution and sale of petroleum products.
Police have since reported operations targeting suspected illegal fuel dealers. On Friday, Central West Region Police announced the arrest of a 36-year-old businessman, Andrew Mwandira, and the seizure of 1 500 litres of fuel suspected to have been illegally stored at his shop in Lilongwe.
The recovered products comprised 820 litres of diesel and 680 litres of petrol, as well as 175 litres of oil.
The reward scheme comes amid prolonged fuel supply challenges, with motorists continuing to spend long hours at filling stations in search of the commodity.
With erratic supplies persisting for nearly two months, illegal vendors in different parts of the country have also been selling fuel at up to K20 000 per litre, compared with regulated pump prices of K5 619 for petrol and K5 863 for diesel.
