By Pemphero Malimba:
The National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) has said it expects at least 12 million litres of fuel to arrive in the country by next week.
Nocma Public Relations Officer Raymond Likambale said the fuel comprises 9.1 million litres of petrol and 3.4 million litres of diesel.
“So far we should be expecting 9.1 million litres of petrol and 3.4 million litres of diesel so, as I said, the trucks are already loading; some have already started arriving in the country and more trucks are already at the border and should be arriving in the country by tomorrow morning(Thursday),” he said.
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He said fuel suppliers were loading the fuel on Wednesday.
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“All Nocma suppliers (Augusta, Adax, Lake Oil, Hapco and Camel) have resumed loading petroleum products from the ports of Beira and Dar es Salaam and from around next week we should be able to expect some wagons into the country from Nacala,” Likambale said.
He said the company was working tirelessly to address forex challenges which were hindering importation of fuel.
“Nocma is working on a financing mechanism that will help to ease forex issues. So our partners are about to unlock some funds. Although it is work in progress, we are hopeful that this will be done and done in the shortest time possible,” he said.
This comes as some parts of the country have experienced fuel scarcity in the past few days.
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Meanwhile, Transporters Association of Malawi (Tam) has challenged the government to avoid misleading people on the fuel crisis.
“Much as we appreciate the government’s efforts in ensuring adequate supply of fuel in the country, it is important for the government, through Mera, to understand the logistical requirements for fuel and avoid misinformation and disinformation on fuel importation deals,” Tam said in a press statement released yesterday.
In August this year, Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) advised the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) to adjust upwards prices of fuel in the country.
Cama Executive Director John Kapito said the move would have addressed the scarcity of the commodity.
Kapito believed that the effects of regulated higher prices were better than fuel scarcity.
Mera made its last fuel price adjustments on November 2023.
