Zimbabwe-Mozambique Deal to Boost Beira-Harare Fuel Pipeline Capacity

**Zimbabwe and Mozambique Announce Expansion of Beira-Harare Fuel Pipeline**

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mozambican President Daniel Chapo announced a major expansion of the Beira-Harare fuel pipeline on Wednesday, a project intended to increase the corridor’s capacity by 67%.

The expansion of the Companhia do Pipeline Moçambique-Zimbabwe (CPMZ) pipeline is expected to raise annual transport capacity from three million to five million cubic metres by the end of 2027. This increase will allow for an additional two billion litres of fuel to be transported annually, supporting energy security in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and neighboring markets, including Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

President Chapo stated that the project reinforces Mozambique’s role as a strategic gateway for regional trade. “The expansion of the CPMZ pipeline is an important investment in Mozambique’s infrastructure and in the energy security of our region,” he said, noting that such infrastructure is essential for economic growth and regional resilience.

President Mnangagwa emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. “The stronger Beira-Harare corridor will support Zimbabwe’s energy security while creating greater capacity to serve markets beyond our borders,” he said.

The project involves the construction of new pumping stations at Nhamatanda in Sofala Province and Messica in Manica Province. These upgrades will be synchronized with the planned expansion of the Petrozim Line between Feruka and Harare to ensure a continuous, high-capacity route from the Mozambican coast into the Southern African hinterland. Authorities confirmed that construction and commissioning will proceed without disrupting existing pipeline operations or fuel supplies.

The 294-kilometre CPMZ pipeline serves as a primary fuel artery for landlocked countries in the region. This latest initiative follows a 2024 upgrade that increased the pipeline’s capacity from two million to three million cubic metres.

António Laice, Chairman of the Board of Directors, described the project as an investment in regional trade and industrial activity. “This project adds substantial capacity to one of the region’s most important fuel routes without disrupting the supplies on which countries and businesses rely every day,” Laice said.

Looking toward long-term regional demand, officials are considering a future project to replace the existing pipeline with a larger-diameter line capable of transporting approximately 12 million cubic metres annually, a capacity projected to meet regional needs through 2050. Additionally, authorities are evaluating plans to extend the Harare-Lusaka fuel route into Zambia’s Copperbelt.

Article and image source: allafrica.com