Beira–Feruka Pipeline Expansion Targets 5 Million Cubic Metres in Annual Fuel Capacity by 2027

Last Updated 52 mins ago by Kenya Engineer

The Beira Corridor is positioning itself for a larger role in Southern Africa’s petroleum supply network, with an expansion of the Beira–Feruka pipeline expected to increase its annual transportation capacity from three million to five million cubic metres by December 2027.

The project, being undertaken by Companhia do Pipeline Moçambique-Zimbabwe (CPMZ), involves installing two additional pumping stations to increase the volume of refined petroleum products transported from Mozambique’s port of Beira towards inland markets, particularly Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.

The expansion comes against a backdrop of rising fuel demand across the region and growing pressure on landlocked economies to secure dependable access to imported petroleum products. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo are among the markets served by the Beira supply network.

The investment was among the key developments discussed at the Beira Corridor Forum 2026, held in Livingstone, Zambia, on 27 October. The meeting brought together government officials, regulators, infrastructure operators, investors and financial institutions to examine the corridor’s competitiveness and its contribution to regional energy security.

Pipeline capacity and regional fuel demand

Projections presented by Daniel Evans, Vice-President at S&P Global Energy, indicate that petroleum product demand within the Beira Supply Zone could grow by approximately 35% over the next decade. This represents an additional four million cubic metres of demand, with further increases expected beyond that period.

The projections reinforce the need for infrastructure capable of accommodating larger volumes while maintaining reliable and cost-effective transportation.

For pipeline operators, increasing capacity involves more than installing additional pumping equipment. The performance of the entire transportation system depends on pumping efficiency, pipeline integrity, pressure management, maintenance programmes and the capacity of receiving and distribution facilities.

The planned addition of two pumping stations is intended to improve the pipeline’s ability to move larger volumes over the Beira–Feruka route. However, the increased throughput will also require corresponding investment in downstream infrastructure to prevent bottlenecks as fuel moves towards inland markets.

Patrick Dias da Cunha, Board Member and Managing Director of CPMZ, said cooperation between Mozambique and Zimbabwe had been central to the company’s development and its plans to establish the Beira Corridor as an integrated regional energy supply route.

The company also sees potential to strengthen Harare’s position as a fuel distribution hub serving Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and the DRC.

Storage and logistics remain critical

While pipeline capacity is central to the corridor’s expansion, the efficiency of the wider supply chain will determine how effectively additional transportation capacity translates into dependable fuel supplies.

This includes adequate storage at ports and inland terminals, efficient loading and offloading facilities, road and rail connections, and streamlined border procedures.

For landlocked countries such as Zambia, access to multiple maritime supply routes provides an opportunity to reduce dependence on individual corridors. However, the commercial advantages of diversification depend on the reliability and cost of the infrastructure connecting ports to inland consumption centres.

Professor Ephraim Kabunda Munshifwa, Permanent Secretary for Energy at Zambia’s Ministry of Energy, noted that dependable fuel supplies were essential to the country’s mining, agricultural, manufacturing and transport sectors.

He welcomed the Beira–Feruka expansion but emphasised that increased pipeline capacity must be accompanied by investment in storage, transport infrastructure and more efficient border processes.

The concern reflects a broader infrastructure planning challenge. A pipeline can transport larger volumes, but inadequate terminal storage, limited distribution capacity or delays at border crossings can restrict the amount of fuel that ultimately reaches consumers.

Regional partnerships and infrastructure financing

The development of cross-border infrastructure also requires sustained cooperation between governments, regulators, operators and financiers.

Delivering the keynote address at the forum, Osam Iyahen of the Africa Finance Corporation highlighted the need to assess infrastructure corridors in terms of the economic opportunities they create, rather than transportation capacity alone.

He called for integrated infrastructure planning, stronger cross-border coordination and greater engagement with industrial customers. Investment in complementary logistics and industrial facilities was also identified as important to the corridor’s long-term competitiveness.

Mozambique’s Secretary of State for Transport and Logistics, Eng. Chinguane Mabote, similarly called for the forum’s recommendations to translate into concrete commitments. He emphasised the importance of coordinating pipeline expansion with improvements in port infrastructure, storage and distribution facilities.

The discussions also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in mobilising capital for infrastructure development, particularly where projects involve several jurisdictions and require long-term commercial commitments.

Implications for regional energy security

The Beira Corridor illustrates the strategic importance of interconnected infrastructure in supporting energy security across Africa. For countries without direct access to the sea, the availability of reliable pipelines, ports, storage facilities and transport networks can have a direct bearing on industrial competitiveness and the cost of doing business.

The planned increase in Beira–Feruka pipeline capacity is one component of this wider regional infrastructure effort. Its success will depend on whether complementary investments keep pace with the pipeline’s expanded transportation capability.

As petroleum demand continues to grow, the challenge for Southern African economies will be to develop supply networks that are commercially viable, technically reliable and sufficiently diversified to withstand disruptions in global energy markets.

For the Beira Corridor, the next milestone will be delivering the planned expansion by December 2027 while ensuring that the infrastructure beyond the pipeline can handle the additional volumes.