Zambia, Tanzania Agree On Monthly Fuel Offloading At Dar es Salaam Port

Zambia and Tanzania have agreed on a structured operational arrangement that will guarantee the monthly offloading of one fuel vessel at the Port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital.

Under the arrangement, one fuel vessel carrying more than 100,000 metric tonnes of fuel will be berthed and offloaded between the 15th and 25th of each month.

The agreement was announced on Thursday in Dar es Salaam by Tanzania’s Minister of Energy, Deogratius Ndejembi, and Zambia’s Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, following a high-level technical engagement involving permanent secretaries and technical experts from both countries.

The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) will facilitate the timely berthing and offloading of the vessel, providing certainty in vessel handling schedules and supporting uninterrupted petroleum supply to Zambia.

Addressing the technical teams, the two ministers emphasised the need for strict adherence to the agreed operational decisions, stressing that effective coordination and institutional discipline are critical to sustaining reliable fuel logistics for Zambia.

Mr Ndejembi stated that the measures agreed upon would enhance the security and efficiency of diesel supply logistics to Zambia. He added that additional bilateral energy-related matters were also discussed.

He further underscored the importance of strengthening the long-standing relationship between the two countries by expanding 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 and facilitation role, noting that the agreement reflects the strong bilateral partnership between the two countries and their shared commitment to regional energy security.

Currently, Zambia transports more than 85 per cent of its diesel requirements under the Petroleum Access Policy Framework through the TAZAMA Oil Pipeline, with fuel offloaded at the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

The agreement builds on the historic TAZAMA Pipeline, jointly owned by Zambia and Tanzania, which has for decades served as a critical petroleum transportation corridor for Zambia.