Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Daniel Chapo launched a major expansion of the Beira-Harare fuel corridor on Wednesday. The project will increase the CPMZ pipeline’s annual capacity by 67 percent to five million cubic metres by the end of 2027, strengthening energy security for Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the broader Southern African region.
Regional energy infrastructure received a significant push this week as leaders from Zimbabwe and Mozambique gathered in central Mozambique. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at Nhamatanda in Sofala Province, where officials from both countries coordinated to ensure a seamless flow of the event where the two leaders unveiled a plaque to signal the commencement of construction works.
The initiative addresses fuel transport needs across Southern Africa. By increasing the annual capacity of the conduit, both governments aim to meet increasing demand for fuel in the SADC region.
Expanding the Beira-Feruka Pipeline Route
The 294-kilometre Beira-Feruka pipeline is a critical component of the Beira corridor, connecting the Port of Beira with Zimbabwe and the wider Southern African hinterland. Operated by the Companhia do Pipeline Moçambique-Zimbabwe (CPMZ), the second phase of the expansion project will raise the pipeline’s annual transport capacity from three million to five million cubic metres by the end of 2027.
This upgrade follows the first phase of the expansion plan, concluded in 2024, when the CPMZ increased the installed capacity of the pipeline from two million to three million cubic metres per year through the modernisation of the pumping platforms of Beira and Maforga, in Manica Province. According to a March newsletter, CPMZ transported close to 2.7-million cubic metres of refined products between January and December in 2025, a 16% year-on-year increase from 2024, and record throughput.
To achieve the new target, the expansion will involve the construction of two new pumping stations located in Nhamatanda, in Sofala Province, and Messica, near the border with Zimbabwe in Manica Province. These installations will handle rising demand for diesel, petrol, and jet fuel (Jet A-1) across the region.
Bilateral Cooperation and Regional Supply Chains
The attendance by the two leaders from Mozambique and Zimbabwe highlights the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries and their shared commitment. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa travelled to Mozambique for a working visit, where he joined his counterpart, President Daniel Chapo, for the ceremony.
“The expansion of the CPMZ pipeline is an important investment in Mozambique’s infrastructure and in the energy security of our region. By strengthening the connection between the Port of Beira and the Southern African hinterland, we are reinforcing Mozambique’s role as a strategic gateway for regional trade while deepening our cooperation with Zimbabwe,” President Chapo said. He added that infrastructure investments of this nature were essential for economic growth and strengthening the region’s resilience.
Beyond bilateral trade, the modernized corridor benefits neighbouring regional markets. The expansion will allow an additional two billion litres of fuel to be transported annually, benefiting Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and neighbouring regional markets including Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The stronger Beira-Harare corridor will support Zimbabwe's energy security while creating greater capacity to serve markets beyond our borders. It shows what Mozambique and Zimbabwe can achieve through cooperation around infrastructure of shared regional importance, President Mnangagwa said
Synchronised Infrastructure Along the Corridor
The expansion in Mozambique is being developed in coordination with the Petrozim Line (PZL), responsible for the Feruka-Harare section in Zimbabwe. The upgrade will synchronise with the PetroZim Line to reinforce fuel supply and energy security across Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and other neighbouring countries.
The Zimbabwean company is implementing an equivalent expansion, through a programme coordinated with the CPMZ and with chronograms of execution synchronised to reinforce the capacity of the Beira-Harare axis.
Long-Term Outlook and Future Projections
CPMZ, a Mozambican company that operates the pipeline, stated that the five million cubic metres annual target is part of its goal to reach approximately 12 million cubic metres a year through a larger diameter pipeline that would enable capacity to stay ahead of rising fuel demand.
