By Cathy Maulidi:
The National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) says the fuel reserves are dry and the country is currently feeding from hand to mouth.
Nocma Chief Executive Officer Clement Kanyama told the media Friday that forex shortage has led to fuel suppliers getting fuel on credit.
Kanyama said however that efforts are being made to have the situation stabilised from Monday next week.
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According to Kanyama, the country is expecting 23 million litres of fuel flowing in from this weekend.
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“We are expecting 23,083,000 litres of fuel, of which 7,762,000 will be diesel while 15,321,000 will be petrol,” Kanyama said.
He said the quantities will help to stabilise the situation.
Kanyama said that all arrangements, be it logistical or financial, are being worked out to deal with the fuel crisis rocking the country at the moment.
He added that government has also set aside $34 million which has been sourced from commercial banks to assist with fuel imports.
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“The forex that is in the country is forex that belongs to the country. So we as Nocma and our partner Petroleum Importers Limited, will source this money from the commercial banks.
“Since fuel is one of the important items, the country has agreed that the $34 million should be assigned towards importation of the product,” Kanyama said.
The money however is not near to being enough as the country consumes between 54 million and 60 million litres of fuel in a month.
Speaking at the briefing, government spokesperson and Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu said government understands the challenges that people are facing and it is looking into every measure to ensure the fuel situation improves.
“One of them is fuel transportation system and this is why the President is traveling to Mozambique [today] to discuss more about Nacala corridor,” he said.
The country has been struggling with fuel shortage forcing motorists to spend nights on fuel queues.
