Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE recent upgrading of Mozambique-Zimbabwe Pipeline Company (CPMZ)’s two fuel-pumping stations at Beira and Manica has increased the pipeline’s capacity from two million to three million cubic metres per year, resultantly enhancing the country’s fuel security in line with Vision 2030.
The new platforms were commissioned last week by Mozambican President, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, with Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister, Honourable Joshua Sacco leading a delegation that represented President Mnangagwa at the function.
CPMZ operates a 294km pipeline that connects the Sea Port of Beria and Feruka in Mutare, efficiently transporting refined fuel products.
In an interview, Deputy Minister Sacco described the upgrading of the CPMZ fuel pumping stations as a game changer for the country’s energy sector.
“The upgraded pipeline is a monumental leap towards achieving Vision 2030 objectives. By increasing our energy capacity, we are poised to become a beacon of reliable and sustainable energy supplies, hub for regional trade and investment as well as key player in the regional transportation network.
“This development is a crucial step towards realising the national goals of energy security, economic growth and strategic positioning. By 2030, we envision becoming a major force in regional energy distribution, driving development and prosperity for our nation and the region,” he said.
Deputy Minister Sacco said the upgrading of the pipeline was proof of the strong bilateral relations between the sister republics of Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
He stressed the importance of strategic partnership in driving economic growth and regional cooperation.
“This significant development has cemented Zimbabwe’s fuel security and paved the way for the country to become a regional fuel hub.
“It does not only make it possible for Mozambique to continue safely supplying fuel to Zimbabwe through the Beira-Feruka-Harare pipeline, but also creates the opportunity to facilitate access for other Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries, thus satisfying the SADC agreements. The increased capacity positions us to facilitate access to countries like Zambia and Malawi, aligning with our regional commitments,” he said.
Deputy Minister Sacco said the upgrading of the pump station’s pumping capacity will also make Zimbabwe a key player in regional fuel transmission.
In 2021, CMPZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government, formalising the Project Cobalt that contemplates extending the pipeline to Harare, and establishing a distribution hub to service Southern Africa’s landlocked hinterland, including high-growth markets in Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Deputy Minister Sacco said this was an achievement for Zimbabwe as the country looks at onward transmission of fuel from Msasa in Harare to other countries.
“This move will not only benefit us as Mozambique’s neighbours, but will also benefit the SADC region as a whole, allowing Mozambique and Zimbabwe to play a big role in the logistics around fuel distribution in the region,” he said.
He also said the upgrading of the pumping stations will improve efficiency, leading to the reduction of fuel prices in the country.
“The upgraded pump stations are the same pumps that are being used to pump fuel from Beira to Feruka, and later to Msasa in Harare. We are happy as a nation because such developments benefit the country to a larger extent, as Feruka will never lack fuel even for distribution in the country and re-distribution to countries like Zambia and Malawi. We also believe that this will bring down the prices of fuel in the country,” he said.
Deputy Minister Sacco said the upgrading of the pump stations will indirectly decongest traffic at Forbes Border Post, and the country’s major roads, as most trucks congesting the roads are fuel trucks travelling to and from Beira for collection of fuel.
“This also helps the fuel to be transported efficiently and in time. This will in turn decrease the risk of accidents and congestion on our roads.
“The commissioning of the upgraded pump stations will result in less trucks on the road, but more efficiency as well, hopefully bringing the price of fuel down,” he said.
On the rehabilitation of the railway line from Machipanda to Harare, Deputy Minister Sacco said the project will resume in accordance with a tripartite agreement signed by Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana last month for a railway corridor to connect the three countries.
He said the agreement aims to boost intra-regional trade among the three countries.
“Our traffic on the Harare-Mutare Highway is increasing on a daily basis because of the haulage trucks plying the Zimbabwe-Beira route.
“Our Government in partnership with the Republic of Mozambique has plans to upgrade Forbes Border Post so that it becomes a one-stop border post.
“This then means that when trucks reach the border post, they will be cleared at once and proceed without queues like what we are witnessing in Mutare these days.
“Our plans to rehabilitate our railway lines are also set to resume soon as we hope to reduce the transportation of goods via road. The Mozambican Government is already done with rehabilitating the Beira-Machipanda railway line, and we have now gone into partnership with them to rehabilitate the Machipanda to Harare railway line.
“This is in line with President Mnangagwa’s agreement with President Nyusi,” he said.
