Malawi announces fuel rationing amid worsening shortage

LILONGWE, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) — The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has introduced fuel rationing in response to a worsening shortage in the country.
MERA Chief Executive Officer Henry Kachaje said in a statement dated Oct. 29 that the move is meant to “ensure fair access to fuel across Malawi.”
He said MERA will direct deliveries to specific filling stations, ensuring full compliance to prevent hoarding, black-market sales, and attendant overcharging.
Malawi has been experiencing a fuel shortage since Oct. 13 due to a shortage of foreign exchange, which forced importers to stop their operations.
On Oct. 23, Minister of Information and Digitalization Moses Kunkuyu told local media that since June, the government had been sourcing only 37 million U.S. dollars every month, far less than the 51 million dollars needed for importation of commodities.
He said Malawi had secured 50 million dollars from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa to help ease the fuel shortage. ■