THE Beira-Mutare-Harare oil pipeline is now fully operational after being under-utilised for two years, a development that is expected to result in the reduction of import costs, the oil industry said yesterday.
The pipeline has been under-utilised because of financial constrains although it is a far cheaper way of transporting fuel compared to road transportation.
The Petrol Marketers' Association of Zimbabwe, the oil dealers' representative body, said it was now close to achieving its intended target, the acquisition of foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe auction system to import bulk fuel on behalf of the oil industry.
"The industry should soon be in a position to utilise the pipeline fully. This will ultimately be of great benefit not only to the oil industry, but also to the man in the street," the industry said.
"Due to a variety of reasons, insufficient fuel was being piped and road transport became the only alternative."
The pipeline, it said, had in the past proved viable when large volumes of fuel were transported.
Fuel supplies have remained steady during the past week with no shortages of leaded petrol, unleaded petrol or diesel being reported
Fonte: AIM
