Strengthening regional partnerships and investing in critical infrastructure will be essential to securing Southern Africa’s long-term fuel supply and supporting economic growth, industry leaders and policymakers said at the Beira Corridor Forum 2026 in Livingstone, Zambia.
The forum, convened by Companhia do Pipeline Moçambique-Zimbabwe (CPMZ) on 27 October at the Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort, brought together government officials, regulators, investors, financial institutions and energy industry representatives to discuss the future of the Beira Corridor and its role in supplying fuel to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Discussions centred on how countries can work together to strengthen fuel security, diversify supply routes and ensure that investments in transport infrastructure deliver lasting economic benefits for businesses and communities across the region.
Pipeline expansion to meet growing demand
A major focus of the discussions was CPMZ’s ongoing expansion of the Beira–Feruka pipeline, which is expected to increase its annual transportation capacity from three million to five million cubic metres by December 2027. The project includes the construction of two additional pumping stations and is intended to accommodate growingdemand for fuel across Southern Africa. Patrick Dias da Cunha, Board Member and Managing Director of CPMZ, said cooperation between governments and industry partners would remain central to the corridor’s development. “Our strong partnerships with the governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe have been fundamental to CPMZ’s success and our shared vision of developing the Beira Corridor into an integrated regional energy supply route. By strengthening infrastructure and working closely with our regional partners, we aim to position Harare as a fuel distribution hub serving neighbouring markets, including Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and the DRC. Our priority is to translate these investments into practical benefits for the economies and communities that depend on reliable fuel supply,” said Patrick.
The expansion is expected to strengthen the corridor’s capacity to move fuel inland, while supporting efforts to improve the reliability of supplies to land-linked countries that depend on regional ports and transport networks.
Fuel demand expected to rise over the next decade
The need for additional capacity was reinforced by projections presented by Daniel Evans, Vice-President at S&P Global Energy. In his presentation, Security of Supply in a Volatile Environment: Supporting the Growth of Fuel Demand in Southern Africa, Evans highlighted the sustained increase in demand for refined petroleum products across the region.
According to S&P Global Energy projections, fuel demand within the Beira Supply Zone is expected to grow by approximately 35% over the next decade, representing an additional four million cubic metres. Further growth is anticipated beyond that period. Daniel also noted that Africa is the only region where S&P Global Energy projects fuel demand to continue growing for decades across all its scenarios. The outlook, he suggested, underscores the importance of planning ahead, diversifying supply routes and investing in the infrastructure needed to move fuel efficiently from ports to inland markets.
Zambia looks to strengthen fuel supply options
For Zambia, the Beira Corridor offers an opportunity to broaden access to regional fuel supply routes and improve the reliability of deliveries to key economic sectors.
Professor Ephraim Kabunda Munshifwa, Permanent Secretary for Energy at Zambia’s Ministry of Energy, said dependable fuel supplies were essential to the country’s mining, agriculture, manufacturing and transport industries. “As a land-linked country, Zambia depends on efficient and diversified connections to regional seaports. A stronger Beira Corridor can widen our fuel supply options, improve reliability and support the competitiveness of our industries. However, increased pipeline capacity must be complemented by coordinated investment in storage, transport infrastructure and efficient border procedures to ensure that the benefits reach the businesses and communities that depend on these supplies,” said Professor Munshifwa.
He welcomed CPMZ’s expansion programme and called for closer cooperation among Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. He also emphasised the importance of transparent regulation, efficient logistics and commercially sustainable investment to ensure that greater pipeline capacity translates into a more reliable and competitive fuel supply system.
Infrastructure investment must create wider economic opportunities
Beyond increasing the volume of fuel transported through the corridor, speakers stressed that its success should be measured by the economic opportunities it generates. Delivering the keynote address, Osam Iyahen of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) highlighted the importance of partnerships in connecting infrastructure projects with broader development objectives.
“The future of Africa’s economic corridors will depend as much on the partnerships connecting our infrastructure as on the infrastructure itself,” said Osam. He called for stronger cross-border coordination, integrated infrastructure planning and closer engagement with major industrial customers. Osam also highlighted the need to invest in complementary logistics and industrial facilities so that the corridor can support economic activity beyond fuel transportation alone.
Mozambique calls for action beyond the forum
Mozambique also emphasised the need to turn the forum’s discussions into practical commitments. Eng. Chinguane Mabote, Secretary of State at Mozambique’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics, said the success of the meeting would ultimately depend on what followed. “The value of this meeting will be measured not only by the quality of the discussions, but by our ability to follow through on the opportunities identified and the recommendations made,” said Mabote. He noted that expanding the pipeline would need to go hand in hand with improvements in port facilities, storage and distribution capacity, supported by public-private partnerships.
Mabote also pointed to the importance of reducing logistics costs, shortening waiting times and improving service reliability. Achieving these goals, he said, would require closer coordination among Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and other regional partners. His remarks highlighted a key challenge facing the corridor: increasing transportation capacity is only part of the solution. Efficient connections between ports, pipelines, storage facilities and inland distribution networks are equally important to ensuring fuel reaches its destination reliably and at competitive cost.
Turning regional cooperation into lasting results
The Beira Corridor Forum 2026 concluded with a shared call for stronger partnerships, coordinated investment and practical follow-through on the issues raised during the meeting. With fuel demand expected to increase significantly over the coming decade, the corridor is positioned to play an important role in supporting regional energy security and economic development. Its long-term competitiveness, however, will depend on more than the expansion of pipeline capacity. Governments, infrastructure operators, investors and industry stakeholders will need to work together to improve logistics, strengthen distribution networks and address the barriers that can increase costs and delay deliveries. For Southern Africa’s economies, the priority is to ensure that infrastructure investment translates into dependable fuel supplies, more efficient trade routes and opportunities for sustainable growth.
