BY UCHIZI MBANGE
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola has said Malawians should not be troubled by sensational talk by some quarters that there will soon be a fuel crisis in the country – following the Russia-Ukraine war – saying the country still has enough stocks of petrol and diesel.
Matola said on Wednesday during Government Faces the Press that he was well aware of the availability of fuel in the country, but condemned practices of illegal buying, illegal storing and illegal selling of fuel.
“These are criminal and unpatriotic acts,” Matola said. “I also hope that Malawians will not abuse the temporary waiver on purchasing of fuel using jerry cans.”
During the meeting, also attended by National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), information and digitization minister, Gospel Kazako, advised that Malawians should not be surprised if local prices are adjusted upwards.
“Fuel prices are being hiked on the international market,” Kazako said. “We are not spared.
“Actually, we have been better off because Malawi has maintained its fuel prices since October 2021, which attracted huge withdrawals from the Price Stabilisation Fund.
“The reason why fuel prices have not been adjusted upwards is because there are other critical issues to be considered first.”
