MCCCI to meet on fuel import change
The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) plans to meet this week to discuss and take a stand on government’s decision to shift the responsibility of fuel importation from a private consortium of Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL) to state- owned National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma).
MCCCI president Newton Kambala said in an interview that at a meeting held last week, the MCCCI council failed to reach a consensus on the matter, hence they have to meet again to arrive at a decision on the matter.
“We need to come up with one common stand on the issue at hand,” admitted Kambala.
He said the issue required proper scrutiny and input from all its stakeholders before a decision was made.
“This is an issue that is at the heart of the economy and doesn’t need to be rushed,” said Kambala.
President Peter Mutharika last week approved a set of reforms in the energy sector which include the shift in the role of importing fuel for the country from PIL to Nocma.
Mutharika’s option was in sharp contrast with recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Energy and Climate change which supported the maintenance of a private sector entity for bulk importation of petroleum into the country.
PIL was by Monday this week yet to be officially communicated to about the matter by the government.
