Government Scouts Contractor To Construct Beira-Blantyre Oil Pipeline

Government Scouts Contractor To Construct Beira-Blantyre Oil Pipeline
The Ministry of Energy officials says government is scouting an investor to construct the oil oil pipeline from either Beira or Nacala in Mozambique to Blantyre.

Initially, the long overdue project was estimated to construct a pipeline with a storage facility based on Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) arrangement projected to run from Beira in Mozambique to the border district of Nsanje.

The Energy ministry’s Spokesperson, Upile Kamoto said Blantyre has been chosen because it is where most of the oil marketing companies are headquartered with more fuel storage facilities.

“Since 2010 the ministry has been trying to find an investor to conduct feasibility study, design and construct the pipeline from Beira-Nsanje in Malawi with a storage facility under the build own operate and transfer arrangement.

“There is no breakthrough in terms of finding an investor or finances for the project,” said Kamoto.

However, she was not clear to state the total projected budget for the same as no feasibility study has been undertaken to establish the full cost and economic benefits for the project.

But one of the studies conducted by Word Bank reveals that estimated cost for constructing a petroleum pipeline in Sub-Saharan Africa hovers around $64,300 per inch-km adjusted for terrain and labour costs.

Once completed, the project is envisioned to ensure fuel security in the country due to its prospect of expediency in the hauling process, besides reduced landing costs as compared to road and railway hauling means.