MERA Crack a Whip on SIMSO

As fuel crisis deepens in Malawi, the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has ordered the suspension of fuel stocks to SIMSO Oil and Transport Company.

The development follows inspections of stock levels at various depots of Oil Marketing Companies around the capital city Lilongwe by the regulatory on 6, August 2025 where it was established that SIMSO Oil and Transport Company was withholding petrol at its depot without any justifiable reason.

According to a press statement released by MERA, SIMSO Company was hoarding over 200,000 litres of petrol at the company’s depot at a time when fuel service stations were dry.
“The conduct of SIMSO Oil and Transport Company undermines national efforts to stabalize fuel supply during the on-going crisis”, reads the letter in part.
The company has since been directed to immediately release and distribute the product it withheld to its fuel service stations.

Shortage of fuel haunts the Chakwera-led government for past five years with no end in sight as some energy commentators blame corruption in the procurement of the product. But government has always been quick to dismiss this saying shortage of forex is the main reason.

The blame game has not helped solve the perennial shortage of fuel in Malawi and consumers are paying heavy prices as prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed due to high cost of transportation.

In a related development, security agencies have stepped up patrols in most of the country’s porous boarder districts to stop illegal trade of liquid petroleum.

On August 6, 2025, police in Masuku, in the boarder district of Mangochi, arrested a 27 year – old Alfred Alli Malinga who attempted to export to Mozambique 550 litres of petrol without a valid permit. The suspect was arrested during the night at Masuku Roadblock along the Bakili Muluzi Highway.

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