The National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) has successfully completed the expansion of its Ruwa liquefied petroleum gas handling depot, significantly boosting the country’s national LPG storage and handling capacity from 600 metric tonnes to 2,000 metric tonnes.
The expansion represents a more than threefold increase in capacity at the facility and marks a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s energy security, particularly in relation to the supply of LPG, which has become an increasingly important source of household and industrial energy across the country. As demand for cleaner and more efficient energy sources continues to grow, the enhanced storage capacity at Ruwa is expected to play a critical role in ensuring a more stable and reliable supply chain for the product.
NOIC, which is responsible for the strategic storage, handling and pipeline transportation of petroleum products in Zimbabwe, has increasingly turned its attention to LPG infrastructure in recent years as the government seeks to reduce reliance on traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal, particularly in urban households, while also supporting industrial and commercial users who depend on gas for their operations. The upgraded Ruwa depot is expected to help reduce the frequency of supply disruptions that have historically affected the LPG market, while also creating greater capacity to accommodate rising national demand.
The expansion project forms part of a broader strategy by NOIC to modernise and strengthen the country’s fuel storage and handling infrastructure, ensuring that Zimbabwe is better positioned to manage fluctuations in supply and to support economic activities that depend on a consistent energy supply. Industry stakeholders have welcomed the development, noting that improved storage capacity at key depots such as Ruwa is essential for maintaining price stability and reducing the risk of shortages that can ripple through both household and business consumers.
The increased capacity is also expected to support the broader distribution network for LPG across the country, potentially easing pressure on other depots and improving turnaround times for suppliers and retailers who rely on NOIC’s infrastructure to move product efficiently from import points to end markets.
With the Ruwa depot expansion now complete, attention is expected to turn to how the additional capacity will be utilised to support growing demand, as well as whether further infrastructure investments will follow to continue strengthening Zimbabwe’s LPG supply chain. The development is being viewed within the energy sector as a positive step towards greater resilience and reliability in the country’s liquefied petroleum gas market.