Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 13th May, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
Zambia is on the verge of strengthening its position as a regional energy logistics hub, as the government prepares to commission the Lusaka West Fuel Depot an ultra modern facility that is set to reshape the country’s petroleum storage, distribution, and trade landscape.
Built at a cost of several billion Kwacha and completed in 2024, the depot is entering its final commissioning stages. The Ministry of Energy confirmed today that cold and hot commissioning will commence in the coming weeks, following a successful inspection tour by senior government officials and petroleum sector experts.
With a massive capacity of 102 million litres, the Lusaka West depot stands as one of the largest fuel storage facilities in Southern Africa. Beyond bolstering Zambia’s energy security and enhancing national fuel reserves, the facility is expected to alleviate transportation challenges, reduce supply disruptions and provide a more efficient fuel distribution network both domestically and within the region.
“This facility is more than just a storage site it is a gateway to regional energy trade and a catalyst for private sector investment,” said the Ministry in a statement. “Its strategic location and scale will position Zambia as a reliable transit and supply hub for petroleum products in the SADC region.”
At the heart of this infrastructure development is the TAZAMA Pipeline Open Access Framework, which aims to open up the country’s pipeline and storage infrastructure to multiple users. This liberalisation initiative is designed to boost transparency, promote competition and attract private sector players to actively participate in the downstream petroleum market.
The Ministry emphasized that the Lusaka West depot is an integral part of the government’s broader economic diversification and infrastructure modernisation agenda. The facility is expected to stimulate job creation, foster value chain development and support Zambia’s ambitions of becoming a key player in regional energy markets.
As the country moves toward commissioning, the government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the depot’s timely operationalisation and to maximising its role in driving economic growth, enhancing trade connectivity and securing energy access for all Zambians.
The Agency.