Our History

1964

Zambia gained independence with an annual requirement of petroleum products of 146,000 metric tons. The bulk of this came from Central African Petroleum Refineries Limited, in Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe).

1965

The demand for  petroleum products increased to 172,000 metric tons per annum. In November, Rhodesia had a Unilateral Declaration of Independence which forced Zambia  to import all of its petroleum products by road tankers through the port of Dar es Salaam.

1967

On 19thJanuary, the Tanzanian and Zambian government negotiated between them a pipeline convention to regulate the construction, operation and maintenance of the pipeline including such matters as tax status, wayleave easements and ownership, shareholding, market share and other rights and privileges.

1968

TAZAMA Pipelines Limited was incorporated. The pipeline had an annual throughput of 600,000 metric tons per annum and five pumping stations, four in Tanzania and one in Zambia.

1970 – 1971

Throughput was increased to 760,000 metric tons by construction of two additional pumping stations at Mbeya and Kalonje in Tanzania and Zambia respectively

1971 – 1973

  • Construction of a crude oil Tank Farm in Dar es Salaam consisting of six tanks with a total design storage capacity of 246,000 cubic meters. 
  • Construction of a total of 798km of 12 inch diameter pipeline loops. 
  • One additional pumping unit for each of the seven pump stations. 

1999 – 2007

The shutdown of the refinery in 1999 due to a fire, erratic supply of feedstock and fuel shortages in the country

2007

Government took up the role of feedstock supplier and appointed TAZAMA as its Agent in overseeing the procurement, refining process and sale of products to Oil Marketing Companies.