The Ministry of Energy has officially opened the bidding process for oil marketing companies (OMCs) seeking access to the Tazama pipeline.
This follows the successful completion of a review of the guidelines governing the Tazama Pipeline Open Access Framework.
According to Principal Public Relations Officer Bob Sianjalika, both local and foreign OMCs are now invited to submit their bids for the use of the pipeline to transport diesel from Dar es Salaam to Zambia. The deadline for submitting bids is set for April 30, 2025.
Sianjalika emphasized that the open access framework promotes competition, enhances operational efficiency, and bolsters supply security within Zambia’s fuel sector.
Energy Expert Johnstone Chikwanda has welcomed the government’s move to review the pipeline’s access guidelines.
He believes this initiative will improve the efficiency of Zambia’s petroleum transportation system and enable third-party access to the Tazama pipeline infrastructure.
However, Dr. Chikwanda has also suggested that Zambia engage with Kenya, which has successfully implemented an open access policy for its own fuel pipeline over the past two decades.
He believes lessons learned from Kenya could further enhance the process in Zambia.
The government’s review is aimed at refining the framework and incorporating operational insights gained since the initiative’s launch on April 1, 2025.
