adminAt present, in addition to road transport, Zimbabwe imports fuel through the 287 km long Feruka pipeline which stretches from Beira in Mozambique to Feruka oil refinery outside Mutare.
Government controls 21 km of the Feruka pipeline, while Mozambique through its company Companhiado Pipeline Mozambique-Zimbabwe, controls the rest.
Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma said plans were afoot to build a second pipeline with the involvement of private players.
“We will be building a second pipeline from Savanna, Mozambique which is 50 km north of Beira, running all the way to Msasa,” he said.
“We are already putting together a consortium with the Mozambican government and private players, hopefully early next year construction will begin.”
Minister Mangoma said once the consortium was in place, it would then determine the amount of money required to finance the project.
He said Cabinet had since approved the project.
“The new pipeline will be carrying 10 million liters of fuel per day,” said Minister Mangoma.
The existing oil pipeline has a carrying capacity of 130 million litres per month.
However, fuel importers have been shunning the pipeline opting instead for road transport due to various problems.
This then prompted government to introduce a $0, 04 per litre road fuel levy meant to induce importers to use the pipeline. — New Ziana
Online Reporter