Zim plans oil pipeline to avoid fuel imports from SA

ZIMBABWE PLANS to build a second oil pipeline from Beira to Mutare, to do away with the need to import fuel from South Africa. The existing pipeline, built in 1963, has a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes a year, 300 000 tonnes less than national consumption.
Petrol and diesel are
piped from Beira, while aviation fuel is trucked in
from South Africa.
According to transport minister Enos Chikowore the reason for the new pipeline is both to cut down on transport costs and avoid a repetition of the fraud that has been occurring on a massive scale at the national oil buying company, NOCZIM.
A refinery has also been planned for Beira, to be built by the Iranians.
Costs of building a second pipeline are not known.
However, the total budget for the
transport ministry is estimated to be less than the cost of the pipeline.
BY MARTIN RUSHMERE