In a shocking revelation, the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) has announced that the country’s monthly fuel demand has skyrocketed from between 31 million and 37 million litres in 2021 to a staggering 52 million litres per month. This dramatic increase in demand is due to the industry resorting to the use of diesel to keep its wheels rolling, according to MCCCI Chief Executive Officer Chancellor Kaferapanjira.
Speaking at a hearing before the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament in Lilongwe, Kaferapanjira stated that the Kapichira outage has put immense pressure on the country’s forex reserves by driving up demand for fuel. The situation has become so dire that the industry has been forced to rely on the expensive diesel option for close to a year, despite the fact that the Kapichira outage problem could have been resolved within six months.
This news is a stark reminder of the dire consequences that can result from a lack of proper infrastructure and planning. The MCCCI has called on the government to take immediate action to resolve the Kapichira outage and bring fuel prices under control. Malawians deserve better, and we hope that the government will take the necessary steps to ensure that this crisis is brought to an end as soon as possible.
