Isaac Salima & Mercy Matonga:
Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has announced implementation of a fuel rationing system to ensure fair access to fuel across the country.
In a statement signed by Mera Chief Executive Officer Henry Kachaje, the authority says each consumer will be limited in the fuel they can purchase.
“And Mera will direct deliveries to specific filling stations. The authority has also announced that purchasing fuel in jerry cans is prohibited. We urge your full compliance to prevent hoarding, black-market sales and overcharging by [fuel] attendants,” the statement says.
The authority has urged all station personnel to understand the rationing protocols.
In a separate interview, Mera spokesperson Fitina Khonje asked for cooperation to ensure that the commodity is fairly distributed.
Some vendors have taken advantage of the fuel scarcity to sell the product at exorbitant prices on the black market.
For instance a five-litre jerry can is being sold at around K35,000 by the illegal traders.
When asked about the situation, Khonje said that they would update the country today.
In another development, Malawi’s already fragile fuel supply system risks being harmed by a one week protest strike in neighbouring Mozambique.
The strike starts Thursday.
But the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Wednesday said it is unsure whether the planned strike would affect fuel supply to the country.
Wednesday Puma Zambia advised all transporters who go through Mozambique to park their cars until further notice due to possible unrest.
“Please instruct your drivers to move cautiously and to be in safe truck parks by close of business Thursday. All trucks in Mozambique by Friday should park until further notice,” the letter reads.
On his part, Nocma spokesperson Raymond Likambale said, at present, Nocma could not confirm whether the issue would impact Malawi, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be responsible for commenting on the matter.
“We don’t know details of the strike and therefore it is difficult to state its impact on fuel supply now. Given that this is in Mozambique, the Foreign Affairs Ministry would be able to guide accordingly,” Likambale said.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Charles Mkhalamba was yet to respond to the questionnaire we sent him by the time we went to bed.
Petroleum Importers Limited General Manager Martin Msimuko refused to comment on the matter.
Malawi relies on fuel and a large portion of its goods transported through Mozambique, as that country has access to a major port on the Indian Ocean.
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