Puma Energy Zambia and BHL Group have signed a strategic five-year fuel logistics agreement that is set to reshape energy supply chains and strengthen the Zambia–Namibia trade corridor, one of southern Africa’s most critical commercial arteries.
Announced on Monday, the partnership will see BHL Group, Zambia’s largest hauler of copper exports, assume responsibility for transporting Puma Energy’s fuel from the Port of Walvis Bay to Solwezi and other strategic distribution hubs across Zambia. In a move designed to maximise efficiency, the return leg of the journey will be utilised to carry copper exports, creating a streamlined, two-way logistics flow that reduces costs and improves asset utilisation.
The deal comes at a time when supply security and cross-border efficiency are top priorities for Zambia’s mining, industrial, and retail sectors. By expanding and reinforcing this fuel supply route, the two companies aim to improve fuel availability and reliability while deepening trade integration between Zambia and Namibia.
“This collaboration is about more than moving fuel,” said Buks Jansen van Rensburg, chief executive officer of BHL Group.
“We specialise in delivering reliable logistics solutions that support industrial growth. Partnering with Puma Energy is a natural extension of our strategy, leveraging our proven capabilities to move both copper and fuel efficiently across Southern Africa,” he added.
From Puma Energy’s perspective, the agreement strengthens operational resilience in a market where a consistent energy supply underpins economic activity. Ben Ouattara, head of Africa at Puma Energy, described the partnership as a decisive step forward.
“Ensuring secure, safe, and reliable fuel supplies for our mining and retail customers in Zambia is central to our mission. This expanded transport route not only enhances our supply security but also reinforces the Zambia–Namibia corridor as a key driver of regional economic growth,” he said.
The partnership is expected to move up to three million litres of fuel per month, with first deliveries scheduled to commence in March. This scale positions the route as a significant contributor to Zambia’s fuel logistics network, particularly for the valuable Copperbelt mining area and Zambia’s North-Western Province.
Safe ty and operational oversight are also central to the agreement. An In-Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS) will be installed across the entire transport fleet, enabling real-time monitoring of driver behaviour and promoting safer driving practices across long-haul routes.
Puma Energy is a global downstream energy company operating in more than 35 countries, with a strong footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central America. Its business spans fuels, aviation, lubricants, LPG, and bitumen.
BHL Group, meanwhile, is a leading regional logistics player, specialising in mining, industrial, and export transport, and is committed to strengthening regional trade through efficient, high-performance logistics solutions.
Together, the two companies are positioning this alliance as a catalyst for more resilient supply chains, smarter logistics, and deeper regional economic connectivity.
-ebrandt@nepc.com.na