Mozambique to expand fuel pipeline capacity

Mozambique is working to expand its logistical capacity for transporting fuel to meet the growing demand by the hinterland countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Cong and Malawi.

The measure was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, at the end of a working visit to the Companhia do Pipeline Moçambique-Zimbabwe (CPMZ) in Beira.

Mateus Magala was at CPMZ on Wednesday 19th April, following the guidance given at the meeting between the heads of state of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, on the 4th of April, during which Zambia declared its desire to improve the logistics of transporting imported fuels from Mozambican ports.

In response, Magala directed CPMZ and the company Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM, the managing entity of the fuel terminal in Port of Beira) to work together to increase fuel handling and transport capacity.

Minister Magala underlined that the expansion of the capacity of the Beira corridor should integrate the reception capacity of the port, the capacity of the pipeline and the needs of the final consumer.

The Mozambique-Zimbabwe pipeline had a capacity of around 2.2 million cubic metres per year, with prospects of gradually increasing this to three million in June, 2023, and to five million cubic metres within a few years.

In 2022, the Port of Beira handled around 1.7 million cubic metres of fuel in transit to Zimbabwe, 97% of which was transported through the pipeline.

Minister Magala was accompanied on his visit by CFM executive director António Bié and central and provincial sector staff.