THE National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand the Beira-Feruka-Msasa pipeline to five billion litres annually by the end of 2027.
According to authorities, the US$400 million upgrade represents the second phase of a strategic infrastructure modernisation programme.
It follows the successful completion of stage one, which lifted annual pumping capacity from two billion to three billion litres.
NOIC board chairperson Innocent Chiganze confirmed the timeline when he appeared before Parliament.
“We completed two ethanol storage tanks and recently upgraded the pipeline from two to three billion litres per annum,” he said.
“We are now embarking on a further upgrade to five billion litres, which we hope to complete by the end of 2027.”
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The 296-kilometre pipeline is Zimbabwe’s fuel lifeline.
Enerst Denhere, deputy chief investment officer at the Mutapa Investment Fund, said the projects were central to long-term resilience.
“We are pleased with NOIC’s performance. From underground storage to the transit terminal at Mabvuku, these operations are central to Zimbabwe’s energy security,” he stated.
For decades, the route has supplied over 80% of Zimbabwe’s refined petroleum, offering a far cheaper and more reliable alternative to road and rail transport.
However, ageing infrastructure and growing regional demand have long pressured its limits.
NOIC officials said with the second-phase expansion, the country aims to not only secure its own supply but also become a premier inland fuel port for the region.
Parliament Public Accounts Committee chairperson, Caston Matewu, indicated that the country has over 540 million litres in reserve, enough to cater for more than three months.
“Zimbabwe also serves as a gateway for fuel exports to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he added.
If completed on schedule, the five billion-litre capacity will more than double the system’s original throughput.
Last month, Denys Denya, senior vice-president of African Export-Import Bank, said the bank was in discussions with the Mutapa Investment Fund and private sector players to further expand the pipeline and potentially extend it to Zambia.
He said the initiatives were aimed at improving supply reliability and reducing fuel costs across the region.
The projects form part of Afreximbank’s broader push to deepen intra-African energy trade, reduce dependence on external fuel sources and stabilise regional supply chains.
Fuel markets across Africa, including Zimbabwe, have recently been affected by global price volatility driven by geopolitical tensions, including the Iran-Israel conflict.