Zambia and Tanzania Strengthen Petroleum Cooperation in High-Level Talks
Zambia, Tanzania Agree on Fuel Supply Arrangements to Secure Petroleum Deliveries via TAZAMA Pipeline
The Ministers of Energy of Zambia and Tanzania today held a high-level bilateral meeting in Dar es Salaam, reaffirming their long-standing partnership in petroleum cooperation and regional energy security.
The engagement brought together senior government officials from both countries to deliberate on petroleum supply logistics, infrastructure management, and policy coordination, with a shared goal of ensuring a stable and reliable fuel supply for Zambia.
The Zambian delegation was led by Minister of Energy Mr Makozo Chikote and included Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Mr Oliver Kalabo, Permanent Secretary for Energy Professor Ephraim Munshifwa, representatives from the Attorney General’s Office, and the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Board Chairperson.
The high-level composition of the delegation underscored the strategic importance Zambia places on petroleum logistics and the management of shared energy infrastructure.
A central focus of the discussions was the TAZAMA Oil Pipeline, jointly owned by Zambia and Tanzania and widely regarded as a pillar of bilateral cooperation.
Constructed in the late 1960s to secure fuel supply routes for landlocked Zambia, the pipeline stretches approximately 1,710 kilometres from the Port of Dar es Salaam to Ndola.
Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding and modernising the pipeline to support long-term fuel security, economic growth, and deeper bilateral relations.
A key outcome of the meeting was an agreement on a structured operational framework to guarantee the monthly offloading of one fuel vessel at the Port of Dar es Salaam.
Under the arrangement, a vessel carrying over 100,000 metric tonnes of fuel will be berthed and discharged between the 15th and 25th of each month, with the Tanzania Ports Authority ensuring timely and efficient handling.
The agreement was jointly announced by Tanzania’s Minister of Energy Mr Deogratius Ndejembi and Mr Chikote following a high-level technical meeting involving permanent secretaries and energy experts from both countries.
Addressing the technical teams, the two ministers emphasized the need for strict adherence to the agreed operational arrangements, noting that effective coordination and institutional discipline are critical to maintaining uninterrupted fuel supplies to Zambia.
Mr Ndejembi said the measures would significantly enhance the security and efficiency of diesel supply logistics for Zambia, adding that the discussions also explored opportunities to expand cooperation into other energy sub-sectors, including electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Mr Chikote commended the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for its continued cooperation, describing the agreement as a demonstration of the strong bilateral partnership and shared commitment to regional energy security.
Currently, over 85 per cent of Zambia’s diesel requirements are transported under the Petroleum Access Policy Framework through the TAZAMA Pipeline, with fuel offloaded at the Port of Dar es Salaam. The latest agreement further reinforces Tanzania’s strategic role as Zambia’s primary petroleum import gateway.
