Story by John Nhandara
GOVERNMENT has increased national liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage capacity following the completion of the second phase of the National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) LPG storage and handling facility in Ruwa.
The development was confirmed at the NOIC Annual General Meeting held in Harare on Tuesday.
The expansion has boosted LPG storage and handling capacity from about 600 metric tonnes to 2 000 metric tonnes, marking a significant step in strengthening energy security amid rising demand for cleaner household fuel.
NOIC Board Chairperson, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Innocent Chiganze, said the upgrade is expected to stabilise supply and ease price fluctuations.
“We also did LPG development from 600 metric tonnes to 2 000 metric tonnes, which we just commissioned this May. In the past years, we have been witnessing fluctuations in the price of gas due to intermittent shortages,” he said.
“With the coming on board of 2 000 metric tonnes, there will be security of supply and prices will be stabilised while also promoting cleaner environments.”
Mutapa Investment Fund Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Mr Enerst Denhere, said NOIC’s infrastructure expansion projects had also improved operational performance and shareholder returns.
“Key outcomes were a number of strategic projects that NOIC commenced and completed in 2025, key among them the upgrade of the pipeline to three billion litres. They achieved a record throughput of 2,67 billion litres, which translated into improved financial performance,” he said.
He said this resulted in a dividend declaration of ZiG590 million, equivalent to about US$22 7 million, up from US$10 million the previous year.
NOIC has now set its sights on further upgrading the Beira–Msasa–Feruka pipeline, a strategic project expected to increase pumping capacity to about five billion litres per annum.
