Harare, (New Ziana) -The ambitious Muzarabani oil and gas project in the Cabora Bassa Basin is steadily moving from exploration into a decisive phase that could reshape the energy landscape in Zimbabwe, the government has said.
In a statement, the government said Australian-listed Invictus Energy has confirmed a gas-condensate discovery at the Mukuyu-2 well, marking a significant breakthrough in the search for hydrocarbons.
The discovery confirms the presence of a working petroleum system in the basin, raising optimism about Zimbabwe’s long-term energy prospects.
“The Muzarabani project in the Cabora Bassa Basin is indeed one of the most transformative infrastructure and energy developments in Zimbabwe’s history. As of March 2026, the project has transitioned from pure exploration into a critical “appraisal and early commercialization” phase,” it said.
“While the enthusiasm for energy independence is well-founded, the technical reality of the discoveries, and the timeline for replacing imports, has some important nuances as of early 2026,” it added.
However, while traces of light oil have been identified, natural gas remains the dominant resource discovered so far. Further exploration is still underway to determine whether commercially viable oil reserves exist at a scale capable of producing petrol and diesel domestically.
The government said the project recently achieved another milestone with the finalisation of the Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement (PPSA), a legal framework that sets out how revenues and resources will be shared between the Government and investors once production begins.
It said attention is now turning to the next phase of exploration, with drilling at the Musuma-1 well expected in the first half of this year, adding that the well will test the eastern margin of the basin and could significantly expand the known resource base.
While the prospect of eliminating fuel imports has captured public imagination, experts caution that achieving this goal will require significant investment in refining infrastructure.
The country would need to either construct a new oil refinery or upgrade existing facilities to process the type of condensate discovered in Muzarabani.
Despite these challenges, the scale of the gas resource—estimated at around 20 trillion cubic feet—positions Zimbabwe as a potential regional energy player.
The country could, in time, supply electricity and gas to neighbouring markets through the Southern African Power Pool, including countries such as South Africa and Zambia.
The broader economic implications are substantial as the project is expected to stimulate job creation across multiple sectors, including fertiliser production, petrochemicals and logistics.
Increased local energy supply could also lower production costs for industry, boosting competitiveness.
New Ziana
