It was all smiles for residents of Malawi’s administrative capital, Lilongwe, Tuesday as they saw history in the making when the first fuel train arrived in the city for the first time in 21 years.
The last train to drop fuel in Lilongwe did so in 2003.
The first fuel train into Lilongwe brought a total of 16 tankers, each carrying 42,000 litres.
National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Board Chairperson Colleen Zamba, who is also Secretary to the President and Cabinet, described the development as momentous for Malawi.
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“This forms an era in our history. Centuries to come, we will tell our successors as a big day, one with momentous interests for Malawi. and chronicle today, July 23 2024,
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“This government is committed to ensuring that Malawi is a land-linked country and not a land-locked one. I repeat, [Malawi should be] a land-linked country and not [a] landlocked [one],” Zamba said.
She added that repairing the railway line to Lilongwe marks the beginning of good things to come.
Zamba said the vision is to link the train from the Southern Region, where works are progressing, from Marka all the way to Karonga District along the Northern Corridor, then connecting with Tanzania.
“The macro-economic benefit of this project is to facilitate the movement of goods at cheaper prices, the movement of people for seamless trade and the creation of employment.
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“These are national assets and this is a historic event. Be assured that this administration, led by President Lazarus Chakwera, is delivery focused,” Zamba said.
On his part, Nacala Logistics General Manager Chandra Mohan Sing said his firm is geared to bring more fuel into Malawi through rail.
Sing added that Nacala Logistics is now rehabilitating the rail line between Lilongwe and Mchinji, adding that they target to finish the works by October this year.
Weighing in on the issue, Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola said the start of fuel deliveries into Lilongwe by rail would help stakeholders ensure timely and efficient delivery of the commodity.
According to Matola, trains carry more volumes of fuel at one go, thereby ensuring that the commodity is readily available in the country.
Taking his turn, Trade Minister Sosten Gwengwe described Chakwera as a silent performer.
According to Gwengwe, Chakwera has a great vision of transforming Malawi, adding that delivering such a vision cannot be done overnight, such that he [Chakwera] needs enough time.
He said infrastructure development projects that the Chakwera administration has been implementing would help transform Malawi and facilitate trade with neighbouring countries.
Malawi imports about 20 percent of its fuel through Nacala Port in Mozambique.
Nocma has since indicated that they intend to raise volumes hauled through rail to 30 percent
