Motorists in the country are anxiously waiting for the arrival of fuel which Malawi has procured through a government to government arrangement.
Over the weekend, the situation worsened with only a few filling stations having petroleum products; a development which has affected businesses and left motorists queuing for days on end at fuel pumps.
As of Sunday 5th January, only Total Area 3, Total Gateway, Petroda Chitukuko, Phoenix Bypass, Total Bunda, Nalikule and Mantino had petrol in their filling stations which saw a scramble for the commodity.
The situation could be described as dire as no diesel or petrol was delivered in all the northern region stations according to a Malawi energy regulatory authority (MERA) fuel deliveries note for 5th January.
Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola in a statement hinted the first consignment of the 51.5 million liters of diesel and petrol is expected in Malawi by Thursday this week.
Malawi has this time around turned to Tanga port in Tanzania for its fuel delivery to address urgent fuel needs, bypassing traditional ports such as Dar es Salaam, Beira, and Nacala, which are currently facing severe congestion.
Matola stated that the decision was crucial for maintaining steady fuel supplies and safeguarding the country’s strategic reserves.
During a recent inspection of fuel offloading in Malawi, the Minister explained that delays at the usual ports could have stretched for months, exacerbating the country’s fuel challenges.
He assured the public that while this emergency procurement addresses a short-term need; future fuel supplies will be acquired through open-tender processes.
Matola noted that Malawi’s strategic fuel reserves, with a capacity of 60 million liters, are essential for mitigating supply disruptions.
By utilizing the Tanga Port, Malawi expects faster fuel delivery, easing pressure on its supply chain.
According to Tanzania’s Citizen Newspaper, the port of Tanga has procured oil for the Malawi National Oil Company as confirmed by the Port Manager Masoud Mrisha.
According to Mr. Mrisha, a fuel tanker MT High Freedom docked at Tanga Port on January 1, 2025, carrying a total of 39,418.077 tons of fuel for Malawi’s national oil company.
The shipment included 18,515.847 tons of diesel and 29,902.23 tons of petrol.
The ship was scheduled to depart on January 3, 2025, after completing the offloading process.
The decision also demonstrates Tanga Port’s capacity to handle international logistical demands and highlights its growing importance in supporting regional trade.
