Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola has cautioned fuel retailers in the country against hoarding fuel amid speculation of an impending pump price hike.

The minister said this yesterday when he made surprise inspections of service stations in Lilongwe to check if their fuel volumes were tallying the volumes Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) records indicated were supplied.

Matola checks fuel quantity at one of the service station

He said fuel should be readily available to Malawians and government is ensuring that the commodity is available.

Matola said the tendency to hoard fuel gives unnecessary panic but also puts lives at risk. He discouraged dealers against the malpractice.

“When you deny someone fuel you could be putting life of a person at risk. You never know who the motorist is or where he is going. It could be that the motorist was taking a patient to a hospital,” he said.

The minister also called on Malawians not to panic about fuel availability in the country saying there is steady flow.

He said although there are global challenges, government is doing all it can to ensure flow of fuel in the country.

“Don’t panic everything is in order. Through Mera and Nocma, we have made sure that this product is available in the country,” said Matola.

Asked if Malawians should panic about possible fuel price hike, Matola said Mera board is the one mandated to make price adjustments.

The minister said the board has just been appointed and once they finish their orientation they will decide whether the prices should be adjusted upwards or downwards.

However, he said it would not be surprising if prices go up as prices are rising globally.

“When you look at our neighbouring countries prices have been going up. In Zambia prices have been going up every two days in a week.

“Also in Mozambique, when you are driving to Blantyre and Zomba you will see some filling stations at Bomba in Lizulu they are empty because people are filling up in Malawi and not there,” said Matola.

The managers in the service stations that the minister visited assured the minister that they will ensure that motorists are served and that there is no hoarding of fuel.

All the service stations the minister visited in Lilongwe had fuel except one, which has had no fuel for months due to other reasons.

Some had both petrol and diesel, while one had only petrol and there was expectation of diesel supply.

Malawi is yet to adjust upwards fuel pump prices despite variables pointing to a hike, but sources have hinted that the commodity could go up by the end of the week.

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