Beira – Mozambique: NOCMA resolves fuel issues hauls in over 40 tankers

National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) says it has managed to haul over 40 tankers of petrol as one way of improving fuel situation.

In an exclusive interview in Beira during a media tour, NOCMA Public Relations Officer (PRO) Raymond Likambale said the idea is to deal with fuel shortages, which have been pending for years now.

Likambale says an additional 70 tankers are loading in Beira.

According to Likambale, additionally, a train carrying 1.6 million litres of diseal has departed Nacala destined for NOCMA’s Matindi Depot in Blantyre, to ease diseal shortages.

Likambale disclosed that some processes at the Port are affecting the supply chain. He cited issues of customs which he said
are contributing to the delays.

Likambale has since assured Malawians that NOCMA is doing everything possible to ensure fuel shortage problems are dealt with once for all.

Lake Oil Beira Port Manager Maria Rinaldo, in an interview, confirmed challenges in loading the products due to customs bureaucracy.

He said that currently, they have devised mechanisms aimed at reducing congestion.

Rinaldo said there is a need for Mozambique authorities to increase man power so that they are able to process paperwork in good time and have the product loaded and be released in good time.

Meanwhile , economic , governance, and political commentator Dr Ben Dzolowere has commended NOCMA for hauling such bigger volumes.

Dzolowere said for example 40 and 70 tankers of fuel which is 110 tankers in total has a capacity to sustain Malawi more days.

Dr Dzolowere however urged NOCMA to find lasting solutions on the matter.

He said for example, Malawi should expedite plans of hauling fuel via pipeline.

He said this has more social economic benefits than hauling on these tracks.

Responding to Dr Dzolowere , statement, Likambale said studies are already underway on hauling fuel via pipeline.

He said they are sampling possibilities of hauling fuel by connecting Mozambique Malawi by landing the pipe in Liwonde Machinga.

He said there are additional routes in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. These are the studies happening, and once completed, issues of fuel shortages will be minimised and dealt once for all because as I said earlier on, the issues of congestion will as well as logistical challenges which are hampering the operations will never be there,” he said.