The emergency consignment, sourced from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates under a government-to-government procurement deal, aims to stabilise fuel supplies in the short term.
The country’s Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, announced that this emergency intervention supplements regular fuel imports managed by the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA), Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL), and other licensed entities.
However, delays at the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) have exacerbated the fuel shortages. Speaking to Channel Africa, Frank Banda, spokesperson for the Transporters Association of Malawi, detailed how clearance delays at Tanzanian ports significantly disrupted fuel transport during the festive season.
According to Banda, several trucks transporting fuel from Tanzania’s Tanga and Dar es Salaam ports were delayed due to procedural bottlenecks at TRA. “The TRA had not yet registered the fuel as transit cargo destined for Malawi in their system,” Banda explained. The delays, worsened by staff shortages during the Christmas holidays, resulted in a severe backlog.
“The fuel trucks were ready to depart, but without proper clearance from the Tanzanian authorities, they were stuck,” Banda said. He noted that these logistical challenges compounded the shortage, leaving Malawi’s fuel reserves depleted and causing long queues at petrol stations.
Since the start of January, clearance processes have resumed, allowing stranded fuel trucks to cross into Malawi. Banda confirmed that over 150 trucks carrying fuel have arrived in Malawi since last week, including the emergency consignment from Abu Dhabi.
The Transporters Association has mobilised additional trucks to replenish fuel stocks, with more shipments expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Despite logistical hurdles, Banda expressed optimism that the situation would stabilise soon.
“We anticipate that by Friday this week, fuel queues at filling stations will begin to clear. However, fully replenishing the country’s reserves could take up to two weeks,” he said.
The root cause of Malawi’s fuel crisis extends beyond logistical issues. Banda identified foreign exchange shortages as the primary challenge. “Oil importers are struggling to pay suppliers due to a lack of U.S. dollars,” he said, noting that this financial strain has hindered consistent procurement.
The Malawian government is implementing measures to address the forex crisis, including securing facilities from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and tightening export regulations to retain foreign currency within the country.
While the arrival of emergency fuel tankers provides immediate relief, Banda cautioned that sustained efforts are required to ensure stability. “Even a minor logistical issue can disrupt the fragile balance,” he warned.
--ChannelAfrica--
