A month-long shortage of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) on the local market has left many Malawians, who rely on gas for cooking and heating, stranded as they are unable to refill their cylinders.

The development has caused growing frustration, particularly as environmental advocates continue to urge people to switch from charcoal and firewood to cleaner energy sources like LPG.

Zodiak spot-check over the weekend in Lilongwe revealed that major LPG selling points in Areas 25, 36, 47, and 49 were either deserted or completely shut down. At the few locations still open, including 265 Energy opposite Gateway Mall and another in Area 6, long queues of hopeful customers were met with disappointment as supplies had already run out.

Some of the people we spoke with told us the government is failing people in the provision of gas.

“I have been moving from one selling point to another since morning but there is no gas available.” One visibly dismayed gas seeker told Zodiak Online.

Jame Banda, another gas seeker, shared his dismay. “It’s so frustrating that we can’t find gas. Now we are forced to go back to using charcoal because even ESCOM power is unreliable.”

Ministry of Energy spokesperson Austin Theu attributes the short to an ongoing forex shortage in the country.

“LPG importers rely on foreign currency, and with the current forex scarcity, they are unable to bring in adequate supplies. This has led to low supply of gas on the local market.”

Environmentalist Charles Bakolo has warned that the situation could derail progress in environmental conservation.
“Scarcity of the commodity in the country may lead people to turn to alternative fuel that are more readily available but potentially harmful to the environment.”

In October 2024, the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) increased the maximum retail price of LPG by 15%, raising the price from K3,245 to K3,740 per kilogram.

As the shortage drags on, citizens are calling on the government and relevant authorities to act swiftly and restore stable access to LPG to prevent both household hardship and environmental degradation.