By Sarah Mabedi :
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has said the upward adjustments to the fuel pump prices are necessary following increased landing costs on fuel to Malawi.
MERA acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dad Chinthambi told reporters at a Press Conference in Lilongwe on April 1 that the authority has been left with no option but to reasonably transfer the increased landing costs of fuel on the consumers.
The presser follows the adjustment of pump prices effective April 1 as shown in a statement the authority released last night in which petrol has been adjusted from K4565 to K6672 representing 34 percent adjustment
Diesel has been adjusted by 35 percent from K4945 to K6667 while kerosene has gone up from K3200 to K5624 representing 52 percent.
Jet A-1 at Kamuzuz International Airport has gone up by 79 percent from K3046 to K5439 while Jet B at Bakili Muluzi International Airport, formally Chileka International Airpot has been adjusted by 82 percent from K2993 to K5423.
“The war in the Middle East has affected the supply chain of fuel resulting in a huge increase in the landing costs due to the closure of key supply routes including the Strait of Hormuz.
“The closure of this Hormuz corridor has disrupted international fuel markets leading to higher landing costs for Malawi. Our pump price adjustments have come following diligent analysis of international markets which have directly affected local fuel costs,” Chinthambi said.
Since the current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government assumed power following the September 16 2025 elections, government reverted to the Automatic fuel Pricing Mechanism (APM) and the fuel pump price adjustments in country since the adoption of the APM pricing mechanism has been three times with the last one being on January 20 2026 with a margin of 41 percent.
MERA told reporters that prior to the adoption of the APM fuel pricing mechanism, the country had a deficit of K1.1 trillion in the Fuel Pricing Stabilization Fund in terms of levies in addition to distribution and marketing margins owed to fuel suppliers.
The authority has also hinted that it will take at least four years to dela with the K1.1 trillion deficit which it owes various players in the energy sector.
