Govt, PIL assure of adequate fuel during elections

Ministry of Energy and the Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL) have assured Malawians of adequate stocks of fuel during and after the May 20 tripartite elections.

Speaking on Tuesday in Blantyre during a press conference, Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola assured Malawians that the current stocks and supplies that are destined for Malawi should be able to take consumers for a long period.

“We have enough levels of fuel, including petrol, diesel and paraffin. We also have fuel that has already been purchased and is in transit destined for Malawi,” said Matola.

Giving a breakdown of current fuel stocks, PIL chairperson Davies Lanjesi said the country is currently sitting on an equivalent of 13.8 days of diesel, 11.3 days of petrol and 6.8 days of paraffin.

Lanjesi who is also Puma Energy managing director added that there were 21 diesel tankers and 13 petrol tankers at Dar es Salaam; 15 diesel tankers and 40 petrol tankers at Beira and eight diesel wagons at Port of Nacala in Mozambique as of Tuesday.

“We have enough fuel for the whole election period. This is our business and nobody would want to drive themselves out of business. We will maximise loading this week to ensure a healthy siding in Malawi by this weekend,” said Lanjesi.

Oil Marketing Companies Association of Malawi chairperson Michel Malatino, who is also managing director of Total Malawi, said their companies will ensure maximum offloading during the period.