* To report any illegal fuel trading practices to MERA on 09 9255 8564 or 08 8886 5686 or email: mera@mera.mw
* Any fuel service station found, or reported to be selling petrol in jerrycans will have its operating licence suspended immediately
By Duncan Mlanjira
With immediate effect, the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has banned the buying of petrol in jerrycans or drums from any fuel service station across the country until further notice.
In a statement MERA says the decision has been arrived at “to complement the efforts of fuel importers to restore the security of fuel supply in the shortest period”.
MERA warns that any fuel service station found, or reported to be selling petrol in jerrycans “will have its operating licence suspended immediately” while asking members of the public to report any illegal fuel trading practices to MERA on 09 9255 8564 or 08 8886 5686 or email: mera@mera.mw.
This is also what Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola alluded to in his own statement yesterday, when he asked support of the members of the public in working together to secure the nation’s energy needs.
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He emphasised that to help the fuel authorities to resolve the fuel scarcity situation more quickly, every Malawian should play a role in supporting these efforts by avoiding panic buying as “this exacerbates the situation and creates unnecessary strain on supply and alerting authorities to cases of hoarding, price manipulation and illegal fuel vending.
He also asked motorists to buy responsibly by maintaining normal buying patterns wherever possible; and to trust official government communications for accurate information.
The Minister was updating the public that he has been working tirelessly with his team by holding emergency meetings with key stakeholders in the fuel supply chain — thus assures that the intensive engagements “are beginning to yield positive results toward stabilising our fuel supply”.
Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola
He said the key stakeholders included major fuel importers, oil marketing companies, international suppliers, and the country’s development partners — and thus highlighted that multiple fuel vessels are currently being processed for offloading at ports of entry to ensure immediate availability.
He also indicated that they are securing essential foreign exchange facilities for immediate fuel procurement; that a 24/7 Crisis Response Technical Team is now operational to monitor supply chain disruptions and provide immediate responses around the clock; and there is a strengthening collaboration with neighbouring countries to enhance regional fuel security and minimise supply disruptions.
“As your Minister of Energy, but also as a fellow citizen, deeply understands and shares the frustration and difficulties we are all facing due to the current fuel supply challenges,” he said.
“This situation has disrupted lives across our nation; parents struggling to transport children to school, businesses unable to operate at full capacity, and industries grappling with the impact on production and economic activities.
“I am acutely aware of the sleepless nights many of you have endured in search of fuel. Let me assure you that my nights have also been restless.
“I want to be transparent with you — the fuel supply chain involves complex international logistics and financial mechanisms. While we are working tirelessly on both immediate and lasting solutions, we must ensure that our interventions are sustainable.
“Your patience during this challenging time has not gone unnoticed, and I thank you for that. I commend our private sector partners, whose remarkable cooperation during this difficult time has been instrumental in addressing this crisis.
He added that he feels “the weight of this crisis every single day, and resolving it remains our government’s top priority” and assure the public of “unwavering commitment to see this through”.
“The road ahead is challenging, but we are taking deliberate steps to not only resolve the current situation but also to implement sustainable measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“Thank you for your resilience, understanding, and cooperation as we navigate these difficult times together,” he said.
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