By Draxon Maloya
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Consumers of petroleum products across Malawi have expressed concern that the recent LPG price increase will push households back to cheaper solid fuels, undermining national efforts to conserve the environment.
Annette Chinula, a Mzuzu City resident operating an eatery in the Central Business District, warned that the upward adjustment in LPG prices will ripple through the entire fuelwood market because of basic supply and demand dynamics.
“Costly electricity tariffs and LPG prices having gone up, this will inevitably affect other fuel products such as briquettes, charcoal and firewood, which will become scarce as end users switch to whatever is most affordable,” Chinula said.
Philip White, Business Development Manager at 265 Energy Ltd, described the LPG price rise as an unfortunate but necessary step to maintain supply. He said two recent fuel price increases have pushed up operational costs across the energy value chain.
“Transportation, distribution, storage and general logistics are all fuel-dependent. With these rising costs, maintaining the previous LPG pricing structure was no longer sustainable,” White said, added that, “This adjustment is essential to protect the integrity of the supply chain and to ensure consistent product availability across the country.”
White acknowledged affordability concerns but argued that reliable supply must take priority to avoid stock-outs that would harm households and businesses, highlighting that stabilising the LPG supply chain through sustainable pricing is critical to prevent a return to charcoal use, which would undermine environmental conservation efforts.
“When LPG is consistently accessible, households are more likely to rely on it instead of reverting to charcoal,” he added.
However, other industry sources and consumers say recent gaps in LPG supply have already pushed some households back to charcoal, reversing gains made under the national environmental conservation strategy. Stakeholders warn that unless availability and affordability are balanced, the country risks increased deforestation and higher emissions from solid-fuel use.
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) implemented the LPG price increase effective 4 March 2026, raising the price from K3,740 to K4,475 per kilogram, a 19.65 percent adjustment.
In a statement signed by MERA board chair Lucas Kondowe, the regulator cited rising global LPG prices, higher transport and freight costs, increased insurance and handling charges, and greater financing costs for importers as the reasons for the revision. The energy regulatory body warned that without the adjustment, importers would struggle to bring LPG into Malawi, potentially causing supply shortages.
During our stakeholder outreach, attempts to obtain a response from one of the local briquette manufacturer Raiply Malawi Limited were unsuccessful; the company’s Public Relations Officer, Dalitso Chimwala, said he would respond to a questionnaire but had not yet done so at the time of reporting.
The recent hikes in petroleum prices coincide with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change’s push to strengthen technical assistance initiatives, underscoring the urgent need to balance economic pressures with the country’s environmental conservation goals.