State-owned National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has asked motorists to stop panicking about the availability of fuel, assuring that the country has sufficient stocks.

The assurance follows reports of scarcity of the petroleum products in some parts of the country, especially in the Southern Region.

On Wednesday morning, the Transporters Association of Malawi (TAMA) released a statement in which it attributed the stock-outs to failure by Petroleum Importers Limited and NOCMA to pay the suppliers.

But NOCMA Communications Manager, Raymond Thom Likambale, said there is no need for the motorists to worry as the country has adequate fuel in stock.

“We have sufficient stocks to meet the demand. So motorists do not have to panic-buy the products. It’s just a matter of distributing the fuel to where they have run out,” said Likambale.

He disclosed that the suppliers are currently loading fuel in designated places.

“In addition, we are expecting additional stock of 9 million litres of petrol and 3 million litres of diesel by early next week. Meanwhile, NOCMA is working on a financing mechanism that will help ease foreign exchange challenges with a financing agreement in place,” said Likambale.