Malawi’s President lifts ban on oil exploration
A ban on the oil and gas exploration exercise on Lake Malawi which has been in place since 2015, has effectively been lifted by President Peter Mutharika, , Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda disclosed at a news conference in Lilongwe.
Mutharika suspended oil and gas exploration on the lake in 2014 because of allegations that the awarding of licenses to foreign companies was dubiously done.
The lifting of the ban will now allow oil and gas firms to start prospecting for the hydro-carbons.
“I am pleased to inform you that the President (Peter Mutharika) has lifted the ban. More details will come from the relevant ministry. I am glad that the president has picked this path. The mining sector will play an important role,” Chaponda told a news conference.
Chaponda said oil and gas exporters Georgia and Kazakhstan, are among the nations who have courted Malawi on the oil and gas exploration.
The Minister held discussions with Republic of Georgia’s Foreign Affairs deputy minister David Jalagania, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Affairs deputy minister Ycrzhan Ashikbayev and Morocco’s Foreign Affairs deputy Minister Sala Heddine Mezouar on the sidelines of the 26th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Chaponda said these countries will provide expertise and share their knowledge.
The lifting of the ban has excited some business and civic leaders .
Civil society activist Undule Mwakasungula also it is “welcome development” for government to move with speed on the oil licensing decisions.
Businessperson Peter Manda, who is also secretary for Karonga Development Community (KDC)—a development umbrella body in the Northern Region district— said with the foundations of the country’s economy shaken to the core on the back of poor agricultural output and tattered public finances that have stifled entrepreneurship, businesses are banking their hopes and dreams in the nascent, but promising oil and gas industry.
Manda said they have been discussing how communities will work with the companies to operate in the area as apart from corporate social responsibility activities, business people in Karonga were also looking forward to working with the companies in a number of areas through partnerships and synergy.
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I think malawi is still in darkness. Do we think that this is good decision? do we rely have foreseer decision? This programme has no benifit with we malawians. For example, we have diferrence campany here which have lead land pollution leading climate change because they possessed huge land eg; illove sugar company in lowershire and tea plantation company in shire highland which have destroyed vegation due to open their farms. And now we are crying with climate change. And here we are implementing another problem. Why dont you just go ahead with program of nsanje inland port which had… Read more »
If they start drilling in Lake Malawi, it will be the end of the lake and of the livelihood of fishermen. It’s gonna kill the lake
Save chambo. No oil mining. Water is fresh unlike tz
dont drill oil in lake malawi komwe ambale wathu
amapezelako chakudya chalelo siyani chilegedwe chi
chikhale malomwake, reversal your decision mr bwana
Did the president learn anything on sustainable development during his school days?
Parliament has no Role here. My Heavenly Father, No Animal Life will remain there
No Bonya for Us the Poor Peoples.
Oils Prices have Drastically gone Down on the International Market, Importing is an Option Only. End of the Once Fresh Water Body.
What About Court Injunction, Lawyers.
It is important to look forward, that means looking after our children children. Stop being selfish by destroying one of the biggest fresh lakes in the world. Western world envies this beautiful feature and if it was in their shoes, they would not even think of oil exploration of any kind. Right now oil prices are not as they used to be and even big countries are suffocating. The damage to be done on the lake will be so bad compared to what a common man will benefit. SO REVERSE YOUR DECISION and leave our lake nyasa untouched and let… Read more »
Chimbuli cha president ngati ichi sindinachione. Leave our lake alone. Iwe ndiwe nkhalamba ufa next week, how about the future generations????
I have no respect for unlevelledheaded Komodo dragon.Try again,you might come out of the darkness.
APM has pocketed from this deal. His late brother bingu did same for the Kayelekela mine which has left the community polluted for indefinitely. What can DPP with old and clueless leadership do fo Malawians : just looting government resources.
THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR MALAWI IS AGRICULTURE JUST THE TECHNOLOGICALLY ENHANCED WAY. WE CAN FEED OURSELVES AND ALSO EXPORT.
WE DO NOT WANT THE CURSE WHICH COMES WITH OIL & GAS BUSINESS AS BEING EXPERIENCED IN NIGERIA, ANGOLA ETC.