By Blessings Mbewe

National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) says it has invested K4.6 billion into state of the art rail connectivity project.

The project is expected to connect Lilongwe and Blantyre strategic fuel reserves to ease landing fuel costs.

Nocma’s spokesperson Chisomo Mwamadi, the 25 million litres strategic fuel reserve in Lilongwe is fully connected to receive products through the rail.

Mwamadi said the company is waiting for the completion of the rehabilitation of Salima-Mchinji line to resume lifting of fuel from Nacala in Mozambique.

He also said the 25 million litrers Blantyre strategic fuel reserve will be ready for use by November this year via the rail, as contractors are currently on the ground finalizing connectivity works.

Mwamadi said once all the operations are done, Both Strategic Fuel Reserves rail pumping systems will be able to offload 10 wagons of fuel at once, and that they will be pumping 200,000 liters of fuel per hour.

Once the project has been finalized, Nocma will be able to bring into the country a minimum of 1.2 million litres of fuel per day which is an average of 24 million liters per month.