In a country where the sea lies beyond its borders and every liter of fuel must travel hundreds of kilometers before reaching its destination, survival has never been accidental.
For Malawi, a landlocked nation dependent on regional corridors, fuel is more than a commodity. It is the pulse of the economy—powering hospitals, transport systems, agriculture, and industry. And at the center of this delicate system is the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA), an institution that has quietly become a shield against forces far beyond the country’s control.
Over the years, NOCMA has transformed from a procurement entity into a crisis manager—absorbing shocks from global pandemics, regional instability, and international conflicts that have threatened to choke Malawi’s supply lines.
NOCMA spokesperson Raymond Likambale says relationships and preparedness have been key to sustaining supply even in the most uncertain times.
“The relationships we built with suppliers made a significant positive impact on supply continuity. During the lockdown period, we successfully received petroleum products through all major supply ports, including Beira, Nacala, Dar es Salaam, and Harare. This was achieved despite the operational challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions,” Likambale says.
He adds that coordination across the entire fuel supply chain ensured that operations continued even at the height of the pandemic.
“The industry worked collaboratively and in unison to ensure that, while preventive health measures were being implemented, there was no disruption to fuel supply. All stakeholders, including drivers, were screened as part of operational procedures, and there was strict adherence to the measures instituted by the government,” he says.
Likambale says internally, NOCMA adopted strict operational systems to protect its workforce and maintain continuity.
“We had put our teams in groups to make sure that operations were ongoing despite the pandemic. Where a member of a team tested positive for COVID-19, the entire group was quarantined as a precautionary measure to safeguard other operational teams. At the same time, proper handovers were conducted to ensure continuity of operations,” he says.
He says the company extended support beyond the workplace.
“Employees and their families who were affected by COVID-19 received full support from the company,” Likambale says.
To further reduce risk, teams were deliberately separated.
“To minimize the risk of transmission, operational teams were structured in a way that prevented interaction between distinct groups. This ensured that there was no unnecessary contact across teams, thereby protecting workforce availability and sustaining supply chain efficiency,” he says.
Looking ahead, Likambale says planning is the backbone of fuel security.
“NOCMA continues to plan proactively and collaborate closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate product volumes are available. Our suppliers maintain sufficient stocks at the loading ports, ready for uplifting by NOCMA. Currently, NOCMA is working to secure financing to enable timely procurement. As such, planning remains central to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply,” he says.
Malawi’s dependence on foreign ports—primarily in Tanzania and Mozambique—places it at the mercy of regional stability. The corridors linking the country to Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Beira, and Nacala are not merely trade routes; they are lifelines.
But these lifelines are fragile.
From post-election tensions in Tanzania to insurgency threats in northern Mozambique and global disruptions such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine conflict, Malawi’s fuel supply has repeatedly faced uncertainty.
Yet, despite these pressures, the country has often avoided the worst.
Part of that resilience lies in strategic reserves. By maintaining fuel storage facilities, NOCMA creates a buffer that cushions the country when supply chains are disrupted.
Equally critical is diversification.
When one route becomes unstable, another is activated.
At times when the Tanzanian corridor has faced disruptions, fuel has been rerouted through Beira and Nacala and, in some cases, through inland routes connected to Zimbabwe. Though more expensive, this flexibility has ensured continuity.
However, those on the frontlines of the supply chain say the challenges remain significant.
Professional Drivers Union secretary general Mphatso Mollen says transporting fuel through unstable regions is far from easy.
“It’s not easy for drivers to transport fuel from conflict zone countries,” Mollen says.
He adds that there is a need for stronger protections and policies.
“Government should put measures in place for our product to be patronized by the citizens other than foreigners. This will help us address the issue of overstaying; the issues of harassment (bribery) and health-wise need to be addressed as soon as possible,” he says.
In extreme situations, governments have had to intervene directly.
Recent unrest affecting key transport routes has seen fuel tankers requiring military escorts—an indication of both the risks involved and the value of the cargo.
Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda says such interventions highlight the broader dynamics at play.
“Behind these interventions lies a complex web of diplomacy, negotiation, and trust,” Chaponda says.
For ordinary Malawians, these behind-the-scenes efforts often translate into higher fuel prices and rising transport costs. Alternative routes are longer. Emergency logistics are expensive. Storage infrastructure requires constant investment.
But without these measures, the consequences would be far more severe.
Fuel shortages would cripple farming operations, disrupt medical services, stall public transport, and slow down industry—bringing daily life to a halt.
What defines NOCMA’s role is not the absence of crisis but its ability to navigate through it.
In a region where events beyond Malawi’s borders can instantly affect its economy, the country has managed to maintain a fragile but vital continuity.
It is a quiet resilience—one rarely captured in headlines but deeply felt in its absence.
As global uncertainty persists, experts say Malawi must expand storage capacity, strengthen regional cooperation, and invest in alternative energy sources to reduce reliance on imported fuel.
For now, however, the task remains unchanged.
To keep the country moving.
Because in Malawi, survival is not just about reaching the destination—it is about ensuring the road remains open.
And for decades, through uncertainty and disruption, NOCMA has made sure it does.
