Ewura Board inspects TAZAMA oil pipeline

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Chairman of the Board of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), Prof Mark Mwandosya, led board members and management in inspecting the TAZAMA Oil Pipeline, which runs from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Ndola, Zambia with the aim of assessing operational challenges and find solutions.

Speaking during the visit, which began on March 21, 2025, the Chairman of EWURA’s Energy Committee, Ngosi Mwihava, stated that the objective was to examine the pipeline’s operations, economic aspects, and infrastructure.

“One of EWURA’s key responsibilities in the petroleum sector is regulating the infrastructure used for transporting oil and natural gas. This visit is specifically aimed at inspecting the pipeline, identifying existing challenges, and exploring ways to resolve them to enhance oil transportation services,” Mwihava said.

Mwihava further noted that the visit provided an opportunity for EWURA and Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to exchange experiences in areas such as price-setting, strategic oil reserves management, and capacity building for professionals.

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The delegation visited the Chilolwa station for pipeline security assessment, the Chinsali pumping station, and the Mpika oil storage facility.

Other visited locations included the Kilonje pumping station, the Mulilima station for pipeline cleaning operations, and the Bwana Mkubwa terminal in Ndola, which receives oil deliveries.

Additionally, the delegation was expected to meet with the management of the TAZAMA pipeline, the Board of Directors of Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board (ERB), and the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) to discuss various sectoral cooperation matters.

Tanzania Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) PIPELINES LIMITED was established in 1968 and owns and operates a finished petroleum product oil pipeline that runs through Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Ndola in Zambia.

Previously TAZAMA Pipelines used to pump Crude Oil but was converted to pumping finished product.

The pipeline covers a distance of 1,710 Kilometres comprising of 954km of eight (8) inch diameter pipeline and 798 kilometres of twelve (12) inch diameter pipeline.

The pipeline has an installed transportation capacity of 1.1 million metric tons per annum.  Currently it has an annual throughput of 800,000 metric tons.