By Gracious Banda
Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) says the government is procuring double the normal fuel supply quantity to ensure that fuel supply is stabilized in the country.
MERA says it has procured 51.5 million litres through the government of Kenya, using the emergency procurement programme which will be supplied directly to filling stations and it is expecting another 50 million litres from its existing fuel suppliers, to be offloaded into the country’s strategic fuel reserves to ensure consistent fuel supply by the end of January.
Chief Executive Officer for MERA, Henry Kachaje, confirmed this during a fuel situation update meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources.
National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama, says filling the country’s reserves will help in controlling the fuel supply crisis as the country is waiting to implement Government to Government procurement system with Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, Werani Chilenga, commended the initiatives by MERA and NOCMA, saying fuel supply is crucial in the operations of the country.
Chilenga further expressed the need to adjust fuel prices as a measure of balancing fuel supply, which he believes will help curb the fuel crisis in the country.
MERA has implemented the emergency procurement programme at a time when Malawi is failing to procure fuel through Mozambique due to the political unrest in that country.
