Parliamentary committee faults Mera on fuel procurement
Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change chairperson Welani Chilenga has presented a report in Parliament on the process of procurement of fuel by the National Oil Company of Malawi and the role of Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA).
The report faults MERA for influencing NOCMA on companies to be included in the supply of fuel but also forcing NOCMA to change the way of importing fuel.
The committee believes some officials are behind MERA’s influence on NOCMA in order for them to benefit from procurement of fuel and that has seen delays in procurement of fuel.
The fuel procurement process which was initially supposed to take four months has taken eight months.
The committee fears that the delays have the potential to lead into a fuel crisis.
It has since recommended that NOCMA should proceed with the procurement of fuel and that MERA should operate as a regulator and not suggesting fuel suppliers to NOCMA.
The committee has also recommended that Anti-Corruption Bureau should investigate the matter and prosecute.
The report further calls on appointing authority to consider reviewing the MERA board following the mess that has been recorded.
The committee has also said the blocker system in the transportation of fuel is not supported by law but it is negatively affecting Malawian transporters.
The committee has since recommended that Malawian transporters should be allowed to operate without challenges.
