Tag Archives: National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA)

Business, Malawi

NOCMA admits on fuel suppliers “Hand to Mouth” hunt

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has admitted on hand to mouth on fuel supplies hunt.

The confession was made on Monday, November 10, 2025 when Minister of Energy, Jean Mathanga visited NOCMA fuel depot in Lilongwe a midst persistent fuel shortages that have crippled transport and economic activities across the country.

However, Mathanga acknowledged that the energy sector is under severe pressure, attributing the crisis to limited foreign exchange and transport bottlenecks saying government is working closely with the Ministries of Transport and Finance to restore stability in fuel supply.

“We are collaborating with other ministries to find lasting solutions so that fuel supply returns, we are assuring Malawians that authorities are doing everything possible to resolve the situation,” she said.

During the visit, NOCMA Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama admitted that the country’s fuel situation remains dire, with fuel reserves experiencing critical levels.

“Our fuel stock levels are extremely low we are operating on a hand to mouth basis,” the CEO said.

Furthermore Kanyama explained that available supplies are being dispatched directly to filling stations rather than being stored in reserves.

Despite the assurances, motorists in the country continue to endure long queues at filling stations nationwide, with some businesses warning of further disruptions if the situation persists.

Source: Mibawa TV

Business, Malawi

Chakwera delivers! G2G fuel deal bearing fruits as 50 million litres dock in Tanga

MaraviPost

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-A vessel carrying approximately 50 million litres of fuel has arrived in Tanga, Tanzania, in what officials have described as a critical step toward stabilizing Malawi’s fuel supply chain, thanks to President Lazarus Chakwera’s Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangement on fuel supply chain.

The consignment, procured under a Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangement, signals renewed efforts by the Malawian government to avert the persistent fuel shortages that have crippled the economy in recent months.

Officials have confirmed the vessel’s docking at the Tanzanian port, setting the stage for logistical operations to transport the fuel inland to Malawi through established routes.

This development comes after weeks of speculation and concern over Malawi’s dwindling reserves, which have sparked public frustration, disrupted businesses, and escalated transportation costs nationwide.

The G2G arrangement has been touted as a strategic mechanism to bypass foreign exchange constraints that have hampered private-sector procurement and left the country vulnerable to erratic fuel availability.

According to insiders, this arrangement also aims to strengthen diplomatic and trade ties between Malawi and Tanzania, leveraging regional partnerships to secure critical energy supplies.

Energy authorities have indicated that the imported fuel will cater to both petrol and diesel demands, prioritizing essential sectors such as public transport, agriculture, and manufacturing.

However, questions remain about the sustainability of this approach, given Malawi’s chronic forex shortages, rising global oil prices, and logistical bottlenecks along transit corridors.

Economists have urged the government to couple such emergency measures with long-term reforms, including investment in alternative energy sources and policies that boost domestic forex generation.

Meanwhile, Malawians will be watching closely to see whether this latest delivery translates into immediate relief at the pump or if systemic challenges will continue to undermine fuel stability.

For now, the arrival of 50 million litres in Tanga provides a glimmer of hope—but it also underscores the depth of Malawi’s dependency and the urgency of structural solutions to its energy crisis.

Business, Malawi

NOCMA assures fuel supply stability

Jones Gadama

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has assured the public that a sufficient stock of fuel will arrive in the country soon to address the current scarcity.

According to NOCMA Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama, fuel shipments are expected from the ports of Dar and Tanga in Tanzania and Nacala and Beira in Mozambique.

Kanyama stated that the government has made progress in finalizing procedures for the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) arrangement for importing fuel.

However, he noted that contracted suppliers will continue to bring fuel into the country until the G-to-G arrangement is fully implemented.

Recently, NOCMA received a significant number of fuel tankers, including 79 tankers on Friday, with 50 carrying petrol, and 42 trucks on Thursday, with 25 carrying petrol.

Additionally, 95 trucks were received on Saturday, with 79 carrying petrol, currently at the Songwe border.

Kanyama attributed some transportation challenges to weather conditions in the northern region, affecting fuel delivery to Lilongwe and Blantyre.

Nevertheless, based on the volumes arriving, he expects petrol supply stability to be achieved in the week starting Sunday.

A Maravipost spot check has revealed that most filling stations have started receiving fuel stock.

Malawi, Politics

Helen Buluma poised to name and shame politicians exacerbating Malawi’s fuel crisis

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera’s aid on fuel Helen Buluma has threatened to name and shame greedy politicians who are exacerbating Malawi’s debilitating fuel crisis, which has left citizens struggling to access necessities.

In her Facebook post, the former National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Buluma condemned the selfish interests of some politicians hindering efforts to resolve the country’s debilitating fuel crisis, which is now in its fourth month.

She however expressed her frustration at the stagnant situation, highlighting the alarming surge in maize prices to MK75,000 per bag, driven by soaring transportation costs.

Despite the widespread suffering, Buluma lamented that those in power seem more concerned with protecting their interests than with alleviating the plight of ordinary Malawians.

“I have been here before, and sadly, I thought things would be different,” Buluma wrote. “But nothing has changed. It’s either they benefit at the expense of the poor or forget about fixing the crisis.”

Buluma warned that she would not hesitate to “name and shame” those responsible for perpetuating the crisis, emphasizing that the interests of the powerful few should not take precedence over the needs of the many.

The threat to “name and shame” those responsible for perpetuating the crisis serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for leadership that prioritizes the welfare of all Malawians, not just a privileged few.

The fuel shortage in Malawi has taken a turn for the worse this week, with the commodity now selling at exorbitant prices on the black market.

Instead of the recommended pump price of MK2,530 per litre, fuel is being sold at staggering prices ranging from K7,000 to K10,000 per litre, further exacerbating the hardship faced by Malawians.

Its three months Malawi is grappling with fuel crisis that has skyrocked good and services prices.

Business, Malawi

“Price adjustment isn’t ideal solution in addressing Malawi fuel crisis”-Information Minister Kunkuyu

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu who is also Malawi Government Spokesperson says increasing fuel prices is not an ideal solution to end the crisis.

Kunkuyu observes that unreasonable pump price increases will hurt Malawians further who are already struggling.

The government publicist told the news conference on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 in the capital Lilongwe that President Lazarus Chakwera’s leadership is using other avenues to resolve the crisis including securing funds from Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.

“This is the first time hearing calls for fuel prices increases while government sees that as not a last solution to the crisis.

“We know that the country has been making loses in fuel busines but we can’t just hike prices for the sake of it. Caring leadership exhausts all solutions avenues to address the matter which we haven’t done yet”, he observed.

Kunkuyu also recognized the difficulties and dissatisfaction that Malawians are experiencing due to the current fuel shortage.

He elaborated that fuel suppliers in Tanzania and Mozambique had suspended fuel loading for a period of 10 days due to unpaid invoices.

Kunkuyu also pointed out that the lack of foreign exchange is exacerbating the challenges associated with fuel imports.

He indicated that a monthly sum of US$51 million is necessary for fuel imports, yet the government has only managed to allocate US$37 million.

Kunkuyu revealed that discussions are underway to obtain a $100 million facility from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.

He mentioned that $21.5 million has already been secured, which will enable the importation of 29.9 million liters of fuel.

Additionally, he emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring that 20 percent of the fuel is transported via rail to improve logistics.

Kunkuyu was addressing the news conference alongside Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) and National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA).

Two weeks now, Malawi has been grappling with fuel shortages.

Business, Malawi

Malawi receives 1.9m litres of petrol from Tanzania amid fuel shortages

Burnett Munthali

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In a significant development aimed at alleviating fuel shortages in Malawi, a shipment of 1.9 million liters of petrol has reportedly crossed the Songwe border from Tanzania into the Karonga District.

This move is part of efforts to stabilize the country’s fuel supply, which has been plagued by increasing demand and supply chain challenges.

Raymond Likambale, the spokesperson for the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA), confirmed that an additional 1.6 million liters of petrol are still en route from Tanzania.

This influx of fuel is intended to address the ongoing petrol shortages in various regions of Malawi, which have led to long queues at fuel stations as drivers struggle to access fuel.

In another positive development, approximately 2 million liters of diesel have also arrived at the Matindi fuel storage facility in Blantyre via railway.

This delivery is expected to further ease the strain on the country’s fuel supply, providing much-needed relief to motorists and businesses reliant on diesel.

The recent fuel shortages in Malawi have caused significant frustration among drivers, with many facing lengthy waits at fuel stations.

The government’s efforts to bring in additional fuel supplies from neighboring countries aim to reduce these inconveniences and stabilize the local market.

As the situation evolves, Malawians are hopeful that these measures will improve access to fuel and help restore normalcy in transportation and commerce across the country.

Business, Malawi

“Malawi has enough fuel stocks”-NOCMA publicist Likambale assures

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has assured the general public that the country has sufficient fuel stocks to meet national demand.

This update follows recent fuel shortages in parts of the southern region and at several stations in Lilongwe, caused by forex challenges affecting fuel importers

NOCMA Spokesperson Raymond Likambale told The Maravi Post that all suppliers are loading fuel in designated places.

He added that the country is expecting additional stock of nine million litres of petrol and 3 million litres of diesel by early next week.

Likambale added that NOCMA is working on a financing mechanism that will help ease foreign exchange challenges with a financing agreement in place.

There has been reports of panic buying and fuel scarcity in some parts of the country this week.

Business, Malawi, Politics

Malawi’s fuel politics: Why opposition parties are bent to block any deal to normalize fuel supply

Maravi Post Author

By Falles Kamanga

For the past years, Malawi has been experiencing fuel supply issues, including recurring shortages, leading to long queues at pump stations.

Since taking over power, President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration has been pushing hard to have the problem solved. Among others, is the resuscitating the railway transportation system to ease fuel importation from Mozambique.

The National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) spokesperson Reymond Likambale said that they have imported more than 30 million liters of fuel since the country resumed using rail transport, saving 40 percent in monetary value.

According to Likambale, the percent is expected to increase with the opening of the Beira-Nsanje route which was launched by Chakwera recently.

Further, government is trying to find ways of buying fuel using the Malawi Kwacha, to counter problems of shortage of foreign currency in the country.

Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MOTPW), in line with requirements, is processing an importers licence, with the Malawi Energy Regulation Authority (MERA) and seeking hospitality with NOCMA.

The licence will enable MOTPW to finalize the proposed fuel supply deals with with G.E.T Global and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi of the UAE.

According to NOCMA chief executive officer Clement Kanyama, when finalized, the deals are benefiting from a situation where all the four suppliers have agreed to waive a contractual requirement.

“The on-going infrastructure construction activities do require considerable petroleum products. The reality is that unless an allocation (an average of US$50million, each month) of FOREX to fuel importers is matched with actual consumption, the additional consumption arising from implementation of major projects shall be met.

“With existing fuel importers not securing adequate FOREX to match day to day fuel consumption, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MOTPW) secured a fuel supply from a UAE based refinery through an arrangement with GET Global,” said Kanyama who added that since Covid 19 outbreak, Malawi has not managed to generate adequate forex to pay for the critical imports.

He added that through the two deals; “We are benefiting from a situation where all the four suppliers have agreed to waive a contractual requirement. In this, we are required to establish letters of credit with these suppliers, when they supply on open credit and the amounts are due, we are also not able to pay the amounts on the due dates.

“As a result of that, there have been times when the volumes of fuel in the strategic fuel reserves have been depleted, and there have been some instances where we’ve run out of stocks in the retail outright

“Now allow me to indicate that Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi who then came up with an offer that they are willing to be paid in Malawi Kwacha. Now, this Malawi kwacha will not be taken to UAE, but shall be used by this office of the sheik in implementing the activities which they intend to implement in Malawi under the MOU,” he said

ENTER POLITICS OF DESTRUCTION

As government is busy trying to solve the problem, the opposition is doing otherwise. Trying sure that all the efforts should be in vain, for political reasons.

Recently, the Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change in Parliament chairperson Werani Chilenga said some opposition politicians are deliberately suffocating government efforts on fuel supply chain in order to make sure that the country continues facing fuel challenges.

Chilenga, an opposition legislator himself, said all DPP want is that the country should experience fuel shortage so that that should use it to de-campaign the current leadership during the 2025 general elections.

In September next year, Malawi is expected to hold general elections.

Among others, the committee recommended that fuel prices be reasonably hiked as a measure for fuel sustainability in the country.

Chilenga said the committee made the recommendation after it noticed that MERA was selling fuel below recommended prices.

However, as debate unfolded in Parliament, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), led by leader of opposition in the House George Chaponda walked out in protest, claiming that they were not being given chance to contribute.

DPP and other opposition members walked out of Parliament in protest. Ironically, DPP contributes a substantial number of member of the committee.

The move, angered Chilenga, who in an interview after the incident, advised them to avoid using the issue for their political gains.

“The committee is not a political tool of Parliament, we are here as parliamentary committee to do oversight but some members chose to take it political for their own political reasons.

“They deliberately walked out the house because they don’t want fuel adjustment so that by the end of the day this country should run out of fuel so that they should use it to de-campaign government, to say look government has failed to bring in fuel,” he said

Among those who took part in the committee’s investigation and came up with the recommendations are DPP spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Orphan Shaba and Joseph Nomale among others.

As the MOTPW is in the process of obtaining a licence to enable it complete the fuel supply deals with with G.E.T Global and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi of the UAE, the opposition are again on top of their voices sabotaging the same.

All that they want is to see into it that all the efforts by government to deal with fuel shortage problems are in vain.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor

Business, Malawi

CSAT wants Chakwera to act on NOCMA fuel contract scam

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) wants President Lazarus Chakwera to act on gross procedural violations in the procurement of fuel at the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA).

CSAT observes that actions at NOCMA were intended to defraud the Malawian people.

In press statement issued on Thursday, CSAT Executive Director Willy Kambwandira appeals, “We urgently call upon the President to take swift and decisive action on this matter.

“Additionally, we demand all public officers implicated in his scam to step aside to facilitate for an independent investigation”.

Kambwandira adds, “Parliament has a crucial role to play in ensuring accountability and transparency in this matter. By summoning responsible officials for hearings. Parliament must directly question those involved and demand explanations for their actions.

“Further. Parliament should utilize its oversight function to monitor the progress of investigations and ensure that they are conducted thoroughly and impartially”.

Kambwandira observes further, “CSAT asserts that these allegations involve corruption, fraud, theft, and abuse of power. Therefore, we call upon the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to thoroughly investigate this matter.

“The ACB’s silence on this does not only undermine public confidence in the bureau but also raises serious questions about its independence”.

He therefore urges, “CSAT also requests the President to promptly appoint a Director General for the Anti-Corruption Bureau to ensure effective leadership and accountability at the bureau”.

Business, Malawi

No any financial transactions has been made with Transport Ministry on fuel deal”- disputes NOCMA chief Kanyama

Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Oil company of Malawi Limited (NOCMA) on Sunday, September 29, 2024 dismissed media reports claiming that financial transactions has been made with the Ministry of Transport and Public works (MOTPW) on Sheikh oil deal.

NOCMA Chief Executive Officer Clement Kanyama told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe that the company is yet to issue a licence to the ministry of Transport for the oil deal.

Kanyama says NOCMA adhered to all single source procurement procedures in the Sheikh deal.

He added that no single source procurement rules in the deal were flouted.

NOCMA chief explained further that there is no any other transaction that has taken place, between NOCMA and Office of the Sheikh.

“NOCMA can confirm that no financial transactions have taken place between NOCMA and MOTPW under the proposed hospitality agreement,”said Kanyama.

“NOCMA embarked on seeking a fuel supplier who will be paid in Kwacha and yet to engage international finance institution to establish fuel import financing facilities,” Kanyama said.

He further said process of signing of hospitality agreement between NOCMA and Ministry of Public works the existence of an importers licence shall enable NOCMA to conclude hospitality agreement.

NOCMA CEO added that currently four international companies are supplying fuel in the country namely Camel oil, Addax, Augusta and Hass.

He therefore said both board of NOCMA and MERA directed that prior to signing of any possible supply contract a due diligence be carried out on the entity earmarked for receiving the Malawi kwacha and a draft contract shall require prior clearance by MERA.