NOCMA – Malawi Freedom Network

Jan112023 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

NOCMA To Avert Reoccurrence Of Fuel Shortage

News

The National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) says efforts are still underway to continue restocking fuel reserves for the country to have a sustainable supply of the commodity. Acting Chief Executive Officer for NOCMA, Micklas Rueben, said the company is working with authorities to ensure that the country does not have a repeat of fuel stockouts. -

Nov112022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

NOCMA Paid K2.7 Billion To 4 Contracted Local Fuel Transporters

Stories

The National Oil Company of Malawi NOCMA has expressed optimism that fuel shortage will soon come to an end in the country. This comes as people are still struggling on long queues to access fuel. Meanwhile Lake Oil Limited and Carmel Oil Limited have paid 2.7 billion kwacha which is equivalent to 2.4 million dollars to 4 contracted local fuel transporters. Micklas Reuben Director of Operations for National Oil Company of Malawi NOCMA said with the recent money amounting to about 30 billion kwacha that the country has secured will soon help to bring in more fuel. According to Reuben, everyday, the country needs 1.7 million liters which on monthly means that there is need of 51 million liters which is not being met as currently the country is bringing in about 37 million liters...

Nov92022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Buluma Summoned To Appear Before Court

Uncategorized

The Chief Resident Magistrate's Court in Lilongwe has summoned National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) deputy chief executive officer (CEO) Helen Buluma to appear before the court without fail and testify from January 17 to January 20 2023 in the fuel deals case. According to a copy of the summons dated November 3 2022, Judge Patrick Chirwa states: “You are hereby summoned to attend court before the Chief Resident Magistrate Court to testify on what you know concerning the complaint on the 17th-20th January 2023 at 9 o'clock in the forenoon from day to day until the trial be concluded and herein fail not." The summons follow a complaint by the defense team who on July 7 2022 wrote the magistrate arguing that Buluma was displaying traits of a malingering witness, after she sought for ...

Sep172022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Parliament Meets Petroleum Stakeholders Over Fuel Crisis

What's Hot

A Joint Parliamentary Committee is meeting officials from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and other stakeholders from the energy sector to discuss how the country can come out of the current fuel crisis. Led by the Ministry of Energy, the discussions at Parliament are also being attended by MERA Chief Executive Officer, Henry Kachaje, and NOCMA acting Chief Executive Officer, Hellen Buluma. The meeting comes on the heels of weeks of fuel scarcity in the country's major cities that has affected many businesses and disrupted public transport services. The committee wants the stakeholders to update the joint committee on what they are doing to make sure the problem of fuel scarcity normalises. The Joint Committee comprises com...

Sep92022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Fuel Shortage In The Country Is A Result Of Forex Shortage.

What's Hot

Update from Nocma appearance at parliament. Nocma Acting CEO, Buluma has told the Committee that the fuel shortage that the country is experiencing is as a result of forex shortage. Buluma says, NOCMA needs about 50 million US dollars to procure fuel every month. She says, NOCMA has however managed to get 30% of this requirement that has led to NOCMA importing not enough fuel. She has told the committee that the forex shortage has not only affected NOCMA but also Petroleum Importers Limited and other importers at the lower level. According to Buluma, in August NOCMA did not have financing since there was no forex and this affected them. She says, at present local banks do not have forex and Reserve Bank has only released 10 million dollars out of the said 20 million. Buluma...

Sep62022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

NOCMA In No Show

Stories

National Oil Company of Malawi Limited (NOCMA) has failed to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Trade Industry and Tourism. Chair of the Committee who is a Member of Parliament for Kasungu West, Simplex Chithyola, said the committee wanted to inquire about the status of the fuel availability in the country and what NOCMA is doing to address the situation. He said NOCMA did not send any reason for its failure to appear before the committee and this is the first time for such a public office to ignore the summon. Chithyola said the development has consequences that he did not disclose. The Committee has sent another letter to meet NOCMA on Friday.

Sep32022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Motorists in Malawi are Having to Rely on Fuel Smuggled in from Neighbouring Mozambique

Business

According to the 2021 Auditor-General’s report, of the 374, 14 are Diploma programs, and 80 are undergraduate programmes. Postgraduate programmes are 213 and 67 are PhD programmes. The report dated June 1, 2022, was addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin. The running of unaccredited courses is in contrast to Section 36 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) which “provides that a person who runs or advertises a tertiary education program that is not accredited; commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than ten thousand penalty units and not more than twenty thousand penalty units or a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 20 years, or to both.” Management has been asked to “liaise with Gh...

Sep32022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

NOCMA Admit Forex Shortages Limiting The Volume Of Petroleum Imports.

Stories

Malawians should brace for continued instability of fuel supply as importers admit that forex shortages are limiting the volume of petroleum imports. This comes at a time authorities are assuring the public of availability of fuel days after many parts of the country experienced scarcity of the commodity. At a press brifieing, National Oil Company of Malawi –NCOMA and Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority –MERA said enough fuel had been released from reserves to stabilize the situation. However, Petrolleum Importers Limited –PIL has confided to Capital FM, pointing out that fuel importation is below capacity, at 85 percent because of forex shortages. General Manager Martin Msimuko the problem is likely to stay due to delays in issuing the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility.

Aug292022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Malawi Has Enough Fuel

News

The National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) says the country has enough fuel. The assurance to the nation comes following a sporadic panic-buying of fuel in some parts of the central region. "Malawi has fuel both Petrol and Diesel and continues to receive fuel imports from both the port of Dar es Salaam and Beira, despite foreign exchange challenges which have affected the company’s importation capacity. "NOCMA is aware that over the past forty-eight (48) hours the country has experienced sporadic location-based fuel shortages, especially in Lilongwe and parts of the central region which had led to panic-buying. This was mainly because of a surge in demand in Lilongwe and parts of the central region which undermined the weekend's supply due to many events that were taking place in...

Aug102022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Former Energy Minister Newton Kambala Speaks Out On His Arrest On Alleged Corruption Case

Exclusive, Lifestyle

Today, 9th August 2022 marks one full year since I was arrested on alleged corruption charges. I am out on bail while the court process is in session, but one year on, I remain a detainee. As I acknowledge this milestone in my life, I took a journey back to recount and reflect on events that occurred before my arrest, that should have served as red flags, what happened at my arrest, events that I observed while attending court, and what has happened just now. Sometime last year, 2021, around May or June, not sure but certainly before my arrest, I received a phone call from a high-ranking Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) official alerting me that the Authority was under immense pressure from politicians serving as high ranking government officials to close my company, Mkaka Constructio...