Africa's Petroleum Pipeline Network: A Guide to the Continent's Key Infrastructure
Pipelines are among the most efficient ways to move large volumes of petroleum products over long distances. Compared to road tankers, they are safer, cheaper per unit of throughput, and less carbon-intensive. Yet Africa's pipeline network remains underdeveloped relative to the continent's size and energy needs — a gap that has significant implications for fuel costs and energy security.
Why Pipelines Matter
In regions with mature pipeline networks, fuel can move from a coastal terminal to an inland hub at a fraction of the cost of road transport. Pipelines also reduce road congestion, lower the risk of fuel theft and adulteration, and decrease the number of road accidents involving tanker trucks — a serious safety concern in many African countries.
Key Pipeline Systems in Africa
Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Network — East Africa
The KPC system is the most strategically important petroleum pipeline network in East Africa. It runs from the Kipevu Oil Storage Facility in Mombasa to Nairobi, then branches northward to Eldoret and westward toward Kisumu near the Uganda border. The pipeline supplies not only Kenya but also provides a critical corridor for fuel destined for Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Expansion projects have been underway to increase throughput capacity to meet growing regional demand.
TAZAMA Pipeline — Tanzania to Zambia
The TAZAMA pipeline stretches approximately 1,710 km from Dar es Salaam on Tanzania's coast to Ndola in Zambia's Copperbelt. It is jointly owned by the Tanzanian and Zambian governments and is one of the longest petroleum pipelines in sub-Saharan Africa. Originally built in the 1960s, it has undergone periodic rehabilitation but continues to face challenges related to aging infrastructure and throughput limitations.
South Africa's Multi-Product Pipelines
South Africa, through Transnet Pipelines, operates one of the most extensive petroleum pipeline networks on the continent. The network connects the coastal refineries and import terminals in Durban to Johannesburg (the economic hub), as well as to other inland distribution points. South Africa's pipeline system handles petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and other refined products.
Nigeria's Pipeline Network
Nigeria has an extensive — but chronically under-maintained — pipeline network managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). The network has historically been plagued by vandalism, illegal bunkering (theft), and maintenance backlogs, contributing to fuel supply disruptions despite Nigeria being a major crude oil producer. Efforts to rehabilitate and secure these pipelines have been ongoing.
Egypt and North Africa
Egypt operates a substantial pipeline network connecting its oil fields in the Western Desert and Sinai to refineries and ports along the Suez Canal and Mediterranean coast. The Sumed pipeline (Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company) is a strategically important crude oil artery linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, serving as an alternative to the Suez Canal for very large crude carriers.
Planned and Proposed Projects
- East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP): A proposed pipeline to transport crude oil from Uganda's oil fields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga — one of the most discussed (and debated) energy infrastructure projects in the region.
- Uganda–Kenya Pipeline Extension: Discussions around extending the KPC network into Uganda have been ongoing, with the goal of reducing landlocked Uganda's dependence on road tankers.
- Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline: A long-discussed project to transport natural gas from Nigeria through Niger and Algeria to Europe, though progress has been slow.
Infrastructure Gaps and Opportunities
Despite existing networks, large parts of Africa — particularly Central Africa and the Horn — lack pipeline connections entirely. Closing these gaps requires substantial capital investment, regional political cooperation, and long-term planning. For energy investors, pipeline infrastructure remains one of the most consequential and underdeveloped opportunities on the continent.