Malawi has received over 100 trucks carrying diesel and petrol from Tanzania, bringing much-needed relief to motorists amid ongoing fuel shortages. The trucks arrived at the Songwe Border in Karonga, marking a significant step in addressing the fuel crisis.
The shipment, totaling 40,000 metric tons (about 51.5 million liters) of fuel, was procured by the Malawian government through the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and is sourced from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This emergency procurement follows a policy shift by President Lazarus Chakwera to mitigate the country’s fuel import challenges.
Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola explained that this fuel delivery is intended to supplement regular imports by NOCMA, Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL), and other licensed importers, who have faced difficulties accessing financing for fuel imports, exacerbating the current shortages.
NOCMA had initially planned for 1,409 trucks to transport the fuel from Tanga, Tanzania, and has since called for local and international transporters to express interest in helping with the logistics.
