Govt fast tracks Mozambique fuel negotiations

Botswana hopes that it will soon sign inter-governmental Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, thus securing fuel supplies, routes and storage facilities from Mozambican ports, through Zimbabwe to Botswana.  Already Zimbabwean and Mozambican authorities have offered "good condition" facilities for use by Botswana-bound petroleum products either in transit or in storage.

Analysts believe that after the MoUs, initial fuel supplies to Botswana will come by rail and road, while the proposed Harare-Francistown pipeline is under development. In addition, government also plans to develop the Tshele Hills and Francistown storage facilities to hold 150 million litres, equivalent to 60 days of national consumption. Presently, the two facilities hold 22 days of supplies.