Nam, Zambia plan oil, gas pipeline
STAFF REPORTER – The Namibian and Zambian governments last week signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build an oil and gas pipeline from the port of Walvis Bay to Zambia.
The private sector-led initiative is called the Namibia-Zambia Multi-Product Petroleum and Natural Gas Pipelines Project (Nazop).
“If executed as planned, this project has the potential to unblock economic potential, not only for Namibia and Zambia; but for the SADC [Southern Africa Development Community] region as a whole,” mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo said.
The private sector player promoters of the project is Basali Ba Liseli Resources Limited (BBLR), a company incorporated in Zambia, the country’s mines and energy minister Peter Kapala, said.
In developing the project to take it to bankability, the promoters will be conducting technical and economic feasibility studies, Kapala said.
“The Nazop Pipelines system, when completed, is envisioned to supply 100 000 to 120 000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products in Namibia and Zambia. The Nazop pipelines systems are also targeting supplying other countries in the SADC region,” he said.
PRIVATE SECTOR
He said the governments of Namibia and Zambia accept that its economies will grow and industrialise better and quicker when the private sector is involved.
“Hence our two governments’ commitment to assist with this project,” Alweendo said, adding: “It is one thing to sign an MoU and it is another thing to ensure that it is implemented.”
The MoU makes provision for a joint technical committee that will be responsible to work with the private sector in identifying the exact assistance that will be needed.
One of the biggest challenges on the African continent is access to energy. More than 600 million Africans do not have access to energy, Alweendo said.
“What we have on the continent is energy poverty,” he said, adding that the lack of energy transport infrastructure fuels this.
“For some time, gas will become the most important source of energy on the continent, and therefore having gas pipeline to transport the gas more efficiently will be critical,” the minister said.
The private sector-led initiative is called the Namibia-Zambia Multi-Product Petroleum and Natural Gas Pipelines Project (Nazop).
“If executed as planned, this project has the potential to unblock economic potential, not only for Namibia and Zambia; but for the SADC [Southern Africa Development Community] region as a whole,” mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo said.
The private sector player promoters of the project is Basali Ba Liseli Resources Limited (BBLR), a company incorporated in Zambia, the country’s mines and energy minister Peter Kapala, said.
In developing the project to take it to bankability, the promoters will be conducting technical and economic feasibility studies, Kapala said.
“The Nazop Pipelines system, when completed, is envisioned to supply 100 000 to 120 000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products in Namibia and Zambia. The Nazop pipelines systems are also targeting supplying other countries in the SADC region,” he said.
PRIVATE SECTOR
He said the governments of Namibia and Zambia accept that its economies will grow and industrialise better and quicker when the private sector is involved.
“Hence our two governments’ commitment to assist with this project,” Alweendo said, adding: “It is one thing to sign an MoU and it is another thing to ensure that it is implemented.”
The MoU makes provision for a joint technical committee that will be responsible to work with the private sector in identifying the exact assistance that will be needed.
One of the biggest challenges on the African continent is access to energy. More than 600 million Africans do not have access to energy, Alweendo said.
“What we have on the continent is energy poverty,” he said, adding that the lack of energy transport infrastructure fuels this.
“For some time, gas will become the most important source of energy on the continent, and therefore having gas pipeline to transport the gas more efficiently will be critical,” the minister said.
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