Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has assured the nation that there are sufficient stock levels and continued flow of fuel into the country.
The authority’s Chief Executive Officer Henry Kachaje said in a statement on Thursday, the distribution plan has been affected by logistical and operational challenges, and is being restored.
The statement comes following reports that some pump stations in the Northern and Central region had run out of fuel especially petrol on Wednesday, a situation which worsened on Thursday.
The development created panic buying as motorists had to buy extra fuel in fear of a complete run out of the commodity.
But Kachaje assured the public that currently, 93 percent of pump stations in the country have both petrol and diesel, and there is no need to panic.
He further said the remaining Seven percent, the commodity is either being offloaded or in transit within the country to outlets which have placed orders.
The regulatory body has acknowledged that speculation has the potential affect the fuel sector as it has resulted in panic buying distorting the sequence of fuel replenishments.
MERA has since urged the public to desist from spreading speculative information which creates anxiety and panic buying.
Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has indicated that at least 200 trucks carrying petrol will arrive in the country next week , a development the regulator says should give the public confidence in availability of fuel stocks .
Mera chief executive officer Henry Kachaje has told journalists at a press briefing in Lilongwe today that fuel importation among other factors was affected due to closure of port of Beira in Mozambique which had to be shut down for maintainance during Christmas holidays .
Said Kachaje: ” There were queues at Beira port because of the closure but now trucks are loading and there are 150 trucks coming to Malawi in the next few days and 50 more trucks are coming from Dar es salaam port in Tanzania. “
Mera organised the briefing to dispel reports of fuel shortages in some districts amidst growing fears of a looming fuel crisis.