Zim, Zambia ink MoU to build fuel pipeline
SAMANTHA MADE
Zimbabwe and Zambia have taken a significant step toward regional energy cooperation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a new cross-border pipeline for transporting refined petroleum products.
The agreement, approved by Cabinet this week.
The development was disclosed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere.
He said the deal aims to modernize fuel delivery systems, reduce reliance on road tankers, and improve energy efficiency across the two nations.
“The Memorandum of Understanding leverages Zimbabwe’s existing capacity for oil and gas storage, processing, and transportation, coupled with Zambia’s growing demand for affordable and efficient energy use,” said Dr Muswere.
“Transporting fuel to Zambia by pipeline is expected to take fuel tankers off the roads, thereby reducing damage to road infrastructure.”
The MoU positions Zimbabwe as a strategic logistical hub, capitalising on its established oil infrastructure to meet Zambia’s expanding fuel needs.
It also marks a shift toward more environmentally sustainable and cost-efficient energy distribution, with reduced wear on public roads and lower emissions associated with heavy fuel haulage.
“Cabinet approved the above-stated memorandum, through which Zimbabwe and Zambia wish to facilitate the development of a new pipeline system to transport refined petroleum from Zimbabwe to Zambia,” Dr Muswere said.
By transporting fuel through the proposed pipeline, both countries aim to streamline logistics, improve energy accessibility, and clamp down on fuel smuggling and tax evasion that has often plagued overland fuel transportation. The new system is expected to cut overall fuel transport costs while increasing the security and predictability of supply chains.
In addition to the anticipated logistical benefits, the project also opens opportunities for private sector investment, regional economic integration, and joint infrastructure development—aligned with broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) goals.
Although specific timelines and funding mechanisms were not disclosed, the agreement lays the groundwork for feasibility studies, public-private partnerships, and regional consultations to move the project forward. Technical teams from both nations are expected to begin work on planning and regulatory frameworks in the coming months.
The pipeline initiative adds to a growing list of bilateral collaborations between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and reflects broader regional momentum toward integrated infrastructure to support industrialisation and trade.
As energy demands across Southern Africa continue to rise, the Zimbabwe–Zambia pipeline project is set to become a critical artery in the region’s fuel supply network, ensuring not just accessibility but also long-term sustainability and economic growth.
