Zambia has officially begun scouting for alternative fuel suppliers, including Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil, to bypass the total paralysis of Middle Eastern shipping routes.
In an interview on Friday, March 20, 2026, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Energy confirmed that the country is moving to diversify its sourcing as the Strait of Hormuz enters its third consecutive week of “virtual standstill.”
As a landlocked nation with no active domestic refineries, Zambia is among the most vulnerable to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, which has severed the primary supply line for 65% of East Africa’s fuel.
The Supply Chain Shock: 56 Days of Cover
Zambia’s current fuel security is hanging on a finite “buffer” while the government races to finalize new Atlantic-basin contracts.
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The Hormuz Bottleneck: With Persian Gulf traffic at a standstill, Zambia’s traditional supply route—which typically arrives via the port of Beira (Mozambique) or Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)—has been effectively choked off.
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The Atlantic Pivot: By looking toward Nigeria (Dangote Refinery) and Angola, Zambia is seeking to tap into shorter, more secure shipping lanes that do not require traversing Middle Eastern chokepoints.
Regional Contagion: East Africa’s 65% Deficit
Data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea (CAS) highlights that the energy crisis is now a regional phenomenon affecting the entire eastern and southern African corridor.
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Kenya & Tanzania: Like Zambia, these coastal neighbors are seeing their 65% dependency on Middle Eastern fuel turn into a strategic liability.
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Transportation Inflation: The landlocked nature of Zambia means any increase in the “landed cost” at regional ports is magnified by trucking and pipeline expenses, threatening to spike domestic pump prices.
Operational Logistics: The “Lagos-to-Lusaka” Challenge
While Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery is reportedly “flooded with inquiries,” the logistics of moving fuel to Zambia present unique hurdles:
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Tazama Pipeline: The government may look to repurpose or optimize the Tazama pipeline to handle finished products from Atlantic sources arriving via Tanzanian ports.
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Angolan Synergy: Proximity to Angola offers a long-term strategic advantage, provided the Lobito Corridor rail and pipeline infrastructure can be accelerated to handle higher import volumes.
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