Abstract

Since April 2025, Zambia’s Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) pipeline, previously used for crude transport, has functioned under a new Open Access regime, permitting multiple Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to transport low sulfur gasoil (LSGO) from Dar es Salaam to Ndola. This policy shift represents a landmark reform in the Zambian petroleum sector, aiming to foster competition, transparency, and energy security. This paper critically reviews the Open Access Policy (OAP), examining its design, implementation, and early outcomes in the context of Zambia’s chronic energy challenges. We explore the institutional architecture, tendering processes, demand forecasting mechanisms, and the role of regulatory and governmental oversight. We also analyze emerging challenges, including allegations of monopolistic storage usage and capacity constraints, and assess their implications for market efficiency, pricing, and national energy security. Finally, we provide policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the OAP framework, mitigating risks, and aligning the pipeline’s operations with Zambia’s strategic energy needs.

Keywords

TAZAMA pipeline, open access policy, low-sulfur gasoil, energy security, petroleum sector reform, regulatory governance