Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has suspended operations at Mdeka Gam Service Station in Blantyre while a tanker driver has been arrested after the vehicle was used to buy 2 021 litres of fuel.
Mera consumer affairs and public relations manager Fitina Khonje confirmed in an interview yesterday stating that the authority reported the matter to police.
“The tanker was seized and taken under police escort to an oil marketing company [OMC] where the fuel was delivered after quality was verified,” she said.
Chileka Police Station spokesperson Jonathan Phillipo identified the driver as Livas Chimphedzu, 36, who is being kept in custody for allegedly violating Section 41 of the Liquid Oil and Gas Production Act.
He said the incident occurred on August 28 2025 at around 10pm when a team from Mera noticed the tanker refuelling at the filling station.
“Upon questioning the fuel attendants, they discovered that the tanker driver had purchased about 2 000 liters of petrol, which he was transferring into his tanker,” said Phillipo.
According to Philllipo, the tanker driver told police that he bought the fuel to cover a shortfall in his tanker after selling part of his consignment in Mozambique.
On the other hand, the fuel attendant involved is still at large.
In a separate statement on Friday, Mera chief executive officer Henry Kachaje disclosed that the authority has closed or suspended 18 service stations and one oil marketing company for breaching regulations guiding the sale of liquid fuels and gas.
To curb malpractices, Mera has directed OMCs to only supply fuel to retail service stations operating with closed-circuit television effective today, September 1 2025.
Meanwhile, Mera has assured Malawians that the country will not experience fuel stockouts in September and October as 160 million litres have been secured.
Malawi has been experiencing fuel shortages since last year, but the challenges eased after the country started receiving products procured under government to government arrangements.
National Oil Company of Malawi data shows that Malawi uses one million litres for petrol and 850 000 litres of diesel per day, translating to a combined 55.5 million litres a month.
Malawi spends $600m on fuel per year, according to RBM.
