Fuel availability in Malawi
Replies: 8 - Last Post: Aug 10, 2012 4:44 AM Last Post By: mpembeivan
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Fuel availability in Malawi
Hi please can someone advise on availability of petrol in Malawi at the moment?The last post I just found on this subject is 2 years old, and have heard from other drivers about to go into Malawi that there have been issues.
Also, would really appreciate approximate prices.
For info regional comparisons: petrol in Tanzania was around $1.27 per litre in Dar, increasing to $1.41 further away. Mozambique (northern) was very dear ranging from $1.67 to not far off $2 in the remote parts. Zimbabwe in the $1.40s.
Many thanks
1
i dont know how it is now. i was in malawi last september, and at that time is was really difficult to get petrol. plenty of petrol stations, all of them dry. people waiting for hours at the few petrol stops that where still delivering. on the drive from blantyre to lilongwe, i will never forget the young man pouring petrol into the tank, from a 1,5 litre coke bottle. his arm covered in petrol. i wanted to scream, to warn him, to wash him, but for the locals it all was "business at usual".2
Hi Un,We spent 3 weeks traveling Malawi in May, with no fuel issues. We refueled in Dwanza, Mzuzu (X2), Kasungu, and Lilongwe and never had to wait. We did carry two 20 liter jerry cans but only used them to fill up the rental before we returned it (I think we were supposed to have a MERA license for 2 cans; pretty sure one can without a license is OK). No reports recently from our son about any public transport difficulties because of fuel.
In general, the situation has been much better in recent months, but of course it can always change. As Kate recommends, best to be prepared and follow her advice.
3
Hi, as Kate says, it’s sensible to keep well filled. This has applied for years, even before the fuel shortages, as many of the smaller fuel stations have closed. This means that there could be some distance between stations, for instance there is no fuel anymore between Mangochi and the Cape Maclear turnoff near Monkey Bay, when at one time there were at least 4.Ivan
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Thanks all for your info, and reassuring to hear things have improved of late. Will check out that link, thanks Kate.We are already in the habit of filling up whenever possible due to worries about availability in rural Mozambique (no probs in the end).
Will be driving from far north to south. Have contacts but only right near Milange.
thanks again
5
We are based in Blantyre so let me know if you need more info/contcts etc6
Since you are going to be in the North, I'm reposting this earlier information provided by Itchyfeet38:Also you are more likely to get lucky just out of town as the locals and particularly the matolas will stick around the centre (they will probably be running on fumes!). Try the station a few km along the Lilongwe road out of Mzuzu for example. There is also a wholesale BP fuel station in Mzuzu (turn left at the clock tower roundabout when heading towards Lilongwe). They aren't really supposed to sell less than 100L but may do and you may be able to make it up to that with jerry cans anyway. There is NO fuel at Chelinda (despite what T4A might say) but Rumphi often has it when Mzuzu doesn't. There is also a hand pumped static tank at the junction to Vwaza 10km north of Rumphi (look very carefully to the right as you turn it is very hard to see).
Have a great trip
7
Thanks Kate and TexasTea! Really helpful. Looking forward to Malawi!8
Hi Fuel has gone up today to 485.6 for petrol, and 475 for diesel, but as the kwacha has devalued this will make little difference, petrol will be $1.70, and diesel $1.60/70 per ltr. there may be some variation in isolated places, but the rates are fixed (officially!)For those from the UK. still cheaper by UK prices!! Around £1.10 per ltr, for petrol, as opposed to 1.35, and 1,04 for diesel, as opposed to 1,40 in UK
Ivan
