Russian Rosneft confirms it will take part in the construction of the Zimbabwe-Mozambique oil pipeline

A spokesman for Russian oil giant Rosneft, has confirmed the company will take part in the construction of the Zimbabwe-Mozambique pipeline.

The project, which will include an oil storage terminal near the Zimbabwe capital Harare, opens new markets for the company in Africa.

The proposed pipeline will run from the port of Beira in Mozambique carrying oil to Zambia, Malawi and Botswana.

Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov led a trade delegation that recently visited Zimbabwe to explore investment opportunities.

Manturov commented after meetings with local officials: “We already have a number of Russian companies operating in the country concentrating mostly in the mining sector.

“We have a lot of areas where we feel we can partner the Zimbabwe government by investing in such as platinum mining.”

Earlier this summer, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma said the Zimbabwean government planned to build a new pipeline to boost the capacity of the existing 287 km long Feruka pipeline, which stretches from Beira in Mozambique to the Feruka oil refinery outside Mutare.

"We are already putting together a consortium with the Mozambican government and private players. Hopefully construction will begin early next year,” Mangoma said at the time.

A short 21 km of the Feruka line is controlled by the Zimbabwean government, while Mozambique's Companhiado Pipeline Mozambique-Zimbabwe company controls the rest.

Feruka has a carrying capacity of 130 million l/ month and officials said the new pipeline is expected to carry 10 million l/day of fuel.

Edited from various sources by Cecilia Rehn.

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