Port Overview

The port of Bujumbura is both the first port in Burundi but also the first port of Lake Tanganyika (in front of the port of Mpulungu in Zambia, Kalemie in the DRC, Kigoma in Tanzania).

South of Bujumbura is the Rumonge landing site, the only major landing site in Burundi. Both the port and the landing site serve not only Burundi, but also destinations in the Eastern Congo. Previously, when the border to Rwanda was still open for trade, the Port of Bujumbura also served destinations in Rwanda. Sitting right next to the center of the economic center and former capital of Burundi, the port is well-connected by road. Key competitors for the port are road transportation from Tanzania and a planned railway line from Tanzania to Rwanda and possibly Burundi.

The Port of Bujumbura was built in 1959, with a designed capacity of 200,000 tons. It was expanded during the years 1989-92, and the capacity expanded to 500 000 tons. The port was run as a parastatal until 1992, when a lease agreement was signed for a duration of 10 years with the EPB, a public partnership company (public 43% - private 57%). The port is currently state-owned and managed by the private company Global Port Services Burundi (GPSB), under a concession agreement with the Burundi Maritime, Port and Railway Authority.

The port is relatively well-developed, with a main quay of about 360 meters length, several secondary berths, four rail-mounted gantry cranes and significant warehousing space. The port has also several forklifts. An oil jetty and oil storage are to the north of the port. A key issue for the port is the proximity to a sewage channel, leading to sedimentation and necessitating regular dredging.

The current total carrying capacity of Burundi owned vessels on Lake Tanganyika stands at 10,000 tons.

Four Burundi shipping companies dominate shipping on Lake Tanganyika:

1. ARNOLAC Cargo Shipping operates seven barges and four tugboats and two oil tankers, able to carry about 5,000 tons respectively 535 cubic meters in total.
2. BATRALAC operates three cargo vessels, the Rwegura with 500 tons, the Tora with 1,100 tons, and the Teza with 1,500 tons of capacity.
3. RAD MARINE operates two vessels with 560 tons (MV Bihanga) respectively 1,500 tons (MV Byamwezi) of capacity. (Hamburg Port Consultants, 2018)
4. The newer operator, AH. THUMBA operates one vessel, MV Kiriri.

The port operations management is a concession from the State of Burundi. The infrastructures of the Port belong to the Government. The port handles a wide range of cargo including bagged products (cement, sugar, fertilizers etc.) liquid bulks (oil products). Break bulks (iron and steel) motor vehicles, machinery and containerized cargoes.

There are plans to improve the ports performances:

• Dredging of the port basin
• Purchasing of new cranes for conventional general cargoes
• Replace the container cranes
• Expand the port (new warehouses, floating dock, dry dock etc)
• Improving the automated load planning in the port of Bujumbura
• Construction of a naval building site
• Installation of cold chain at the Bujumbura port

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

4.3 Burundi Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance

The port is situated on the north of Lake Tanganyika and to the north-west of the city of Bujumbura in the industrial zone.

From the port of Bujumbura, port of Mpulengu (Zambia), Kigoma (Tanzania) as well as Kalundu and Kalemie, in the Eastern part of the DR Congo can be accessed. Through Bujumbura, Lake Tanganyika serves as a link with Kigoma in Tanzania for rail shipment to Dar es Salaam. From the port of Bujumbura, EAC, COMESA and SADC markets can be accessed through Bujumbura. As the level of trade increases in the region and other parts of Africa as projected, the port of Bujumbura offers a more cost-effective mode of transporting cargo and people.

There is a storage facility of fuel to the north belonging to a company (SEP) that it’s specialized in fuel storage. The distance from the quay to the storage site is about one kilometer. To the south at about half a kilometer there is vehicles’ parking at Gare Routiere.

Source : Banque de la République du Burundi (link)

Port Handling Equipment 

In total, the port has 920 m of quays, with a draught between 4 m and 8 m. The port has an area protected by the two jetties, and the port basin, 450m long and 100m wide, for berthing of the cargo vessels.

• North Jetty 330m long (A part of the jetty, 150m long, is used as oil terminal)
• South bank 220m long (several berths for passenger vessels)
• South Jetty 120m long (To protect the South Bank)
• Port Basin 450m long 100m wide (for cargo operations)

Equipment

• Four Rail mounted cranes "TITAN" cranes, 5 tons at 18m, 2,5 tons at 36m for general cargo
• One Fixed derrick 50 tons capacity, for containers and heavy lift
• One Mobile crane "PINGUELY" crane, 81 tons capacity for containers and heavy lift
• Two Front loaders 25 tons and 28 tons for containers
• Ten Forklifts 4,5 tons

This storage space at the port is sub-leased and is not well maintained so direct delivery on trucks is recommended.

There is an open storage area as well as warehouses built out of durable material in the port premises.

The public storage space is provided by the State but managed by the GPSB (Global Port Services Burundi).

For more information, please consult the following link

Customs Guidance

This storage space at the port is sub-leased and is not well maintained so direct delivery on trucks is recommended. There is an open storage area as well as warehouses built out of durable material in the port premises.

For information on Burundi Port of Bujumbura customs details, please see the following link: 1.3 Burundi Customs Information.

Terminal Information

Grain and Bulk Handling

There are no bagging facilities available in the port.

Container Facilities

There are no advanced container facilities in use. The containers are usually off-loaded and kept in the port yard till all the required processes are completed before the owners can take custody of them.

Costs for bulk/bagged cargo vessels: Bulk cargo is charged at US$ 1.90 TEU/day. Bagged cargo is charged at US$ 0.60 MT/day.

Main Storage Terminal

Stevedoring

Stevedoring services are provided by the port and are included in port charges.

Hinterland Information

Shunting from port is performed by private transporters who are contracted by the cargo consignee. 

Port Security

Security at the port is generally good. Both the military and Police personnel are present 24 hours a day, and many local banks have branches within the port. Reports of theft are rare.

For Burundi Port of Bujumbura Contact details, please see the following link:  4.3 Burundi Port and Waterways Company Contact List.

There is one Airport (Bujumbura) and three major airfields in Burundi which are in, Gitega, Ngozi and Kirundo. The Burundian Civil Aviation Authority (AACB) is responsible for all management and operational aspects of the Burundian National Airports Network and Air Space Management System. Its scope is to implement Government policies on civil aviation, to coordinate with, and advise stakeholders on general developmental issues affecting civil aviation. The main fields covered are: Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Control.

Burundi is a relatively small country in terms of area and there is not much requirement for many regional airports. Additionally, being such a hilly country there’s less flat land.

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

Humanitarian Air Transport

1. The agency requests (letter) authorization for the operation of the aircraft to the Ministry of Transport with copies to MINAFEX and the AACB.
   1. The letter should contain information on:
      • the type of air transport (cargo, passenger)
      • regular flights, air taxi.
      • the destinations.
      • type of aircraft and registration number.
   2. The following documents are to be attached:
      • Operator, Aircraft & Crew documentation.
      • Air Operator Certificate
      • Certificate of Registration
      • Certificate of Insurance
      • Certificate of Airworthiness
      • Certificate of Maintenance Release
      • Crew licenses.
2. Once a favorable response is recieved, an authorization is received, the aircraft can be put to use. A provisional air service license is not necessary for the operation of humanitarian flights.

For information on Burundi Airport contact details, please see the following link:  4.4 Burundi Airport Company Contact List.

Burundi has a road network of nearly 12,000 kilometers.  According to the Highways Authority, the inland road network consists of a network of 4,456 km of classified roads (i.e., the maintenance of the Highways Office), including 22 national roads with a linear 1952 km and 91 provincial roads with a total linear of 2522 km. Of the classified roads, 1647 km of roads are paved, compared to 305 km unpaved.

Three categories of roads are identified. First, the national roads (RN) that connect provincial leaders with each other and with the borders. Then comes the 2,522 km provincial roads that connect the chiefs of the communes with each other and with the provincial chiefs. Finally, there are communal roads of a length of 2,587 kilometers, very strategic, which connect hills, municipalities and provinces. The unclassified network, which is the responsibility of local authorities, comprises 6,150 km of roads of communal interest and agricultural trails, and 462 km of road inside Bujumbura. (Source: link)

Most of the roads were built between the 1960s and 1990s. Natural disasters, especially with landslides, the civil war that lasted nearly fifteen years, and the lack of maintenance have damaged the network.

In terms of quality, according to the Office of Roads, 17% of national roads are in very good condition, 11% in good condition, 26% in average condition and 46% in poor condition. Of the provincial roads, 8.6 km by 2522 km are paved and in very good condition, the rest being in poor condition (65% of the roads). Despite maintenance problems, more than 1500 km or nearly 80% of the linear of national roads is paved. Some localities, however very strategic economically, are difficult to reach. For roads whose responsibility for maintenance lies with local authorities, a significant part is in deplorable condition, as the municipalities do not have enough budget allocated to this task.

Roads are expensive for the taxpayer. For example, only one km of the coated pavement of the Kirundo-Gasenyi section on the RN14 cost $466,111.97 for Muyinga-Cankuzo one km is estimated at $5,553,387 the coated km of Nyanza Lake-Mabanda-Mugina on the RN3 is equivalent to $1,230,897

Burundi is a landlocked country and its trade, both local and international, depends mainly on the road network. In fact, 80% of the country's trade takes place internationally, compared to 20% for the national level.

According to the Highways Office, three main Corridors connect Burundi to the international ports of Mombasa and Dar-Es-Salaam respectively in Kenya and Tanzania. This is the northern corridor that connects Bujumbura to Mombasa via the cities of Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda and Kigali in Rwanda for about 2040 km; the central corridor that connects Bujumbura to Dar-Es-Salam via Kobero for a distance of 1630 km. Finally, the north-south corridor connects Rwanda (Bugarama) to Tanzania (Kigoma) via the borders of Ruhwa and Mugina. The latter is new and replaces the southern corridor via Lake Tanganyika. The length of Burundi's road network on these corridors is summarized in the following table.

In terms of road length, Burundi is the most deprived country of road infrastructure. The country has an average of almost half a kilometer of road per km2. Rwanda and Kenya are in second and third place respectively with 350 meters and 280 meters per km2 respectively. Uganda has a road density of 230 meters for every square kilometer. Tanzania is the least developed country in this area with about 40 meters of road for each km2.

The ease of import and export is the most important indicator for assessing the quality of transport. It is measured by meeting deadlines in the documentation requirement and procedures. The longer the time spent on borders and barriers, the worse the quality. In terms of exports, for example, the time frame for Burundi and Tanzania (120 hours) is low for Kenya (7 p.m.). In terms of import times, they are higher in Tanzania (264 hours) and Burundi (180 hours), and shorter in Rwanda (72 hours).  The following table provides a comparison of documentation requirements for EAC member countries.

Source : http://akeza.net/un-reseau-routier-dense-au-burundi-quel-potentiel-pour-le-developpement-du-pays/

Although the roads are economically strategic for Burundi, administrative procedures to facilitate cross-border traffic are still very cumbersome compared to most other ECA countries. To overcome this challenge, the modernization of control equipment is more than necessary because time has a direct impact on the cost of transport.

Distance Matrix

Road Security

Burundi does not have any specialized service for road accident prevention even though road accident statistics are on the rise each year. The various services responsible for road safety are non-operational and lack coordination, and road safety information sources are unreliable. Insurance companies are the only reliable sources of information in matters relating to car accidents.

The National Road Agency being responsible for road infrastructure contributes to improve the situation, especially by considering aspects of road safety regarding both technical designing of infrastructure and the maintenance thereof.

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

Different axle load and gross vehicle mass (weight) limits is the current practice among the partner states within the EA region. Burundi and Rwanda still at early stages of developing laws and regulations to control vehicle overloading while Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have more advanced laws and regulations - but differences in training of personnel and operational practices occur

Countries in the East African Community will have to uniform the laws on vehicle weight limits in less than a year.

This comes after member states reached consensus on commercial vehicle loading and management strategies. The forum resolved to apply consistent axle load limit of 56 tons on seven standard axles in all partner states.

Kenya allows a maximum of 48 tons for vehicles, Rwanda and Burundi 53 tons while Tanzania and Uganda allow 56 tons,

Kenya had initially opposed the adjustment and insisted on between 48 and 52 tons. While Tanzania and Uganda axle limits stand at 56 tons, Rwanda and Burundi limit stood at 53 tons.

Transport and infrastructure experts from EAC will now prepare a memorandum on the agreement for consideration by the Sectoral Council on Transport, Communication and Metrology on October 10, and a requisite bill prepared for enactment by early next year.

NB: for Burundi, axle load limitation figures are not yet implemented

There is a plan to harmonize axle weight limit in all EAC countries. Typically, payload may not exceed 30MT for a truck of 6 axles.

For more information, please visit the following link.

Road Class and Surface Conditions

Burundi main corridors in country

-KOBERO-GITEGA-BUJUMBURA

-GASENYI-NGOZI-BUJUMBURA

-KANYARU-KAYANZA-BUJUMBURA

-RUHWA-BUJUMBURA

-MUGINA-NYANZA-LAC-BUJUMBURA

Burundi Transport corridors

Northern corridor: Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali-Bujumbura

Central corridor: Dar-Es-Salaam-Kabanga-Bujumbura

Southern corridor: Mpulungu (Zambia)-Kigoma-Bujumbura

Burundi doesn’t have any railway lines yet; however, there is a project to build railways which will connect Isaka (Tanzania), Gitega (Burundi) and Musongati (Burundi) with total distance of 691Km. The project will be funded by African Development Bank.

4.9 Burundi Railway Company Contact List

Regional railways

Kenya's railway infrastructure spans from the Port of Mombasa to the central highland regions, Lake Victoria and the neighboring countries. The railway is connected to Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) by wagon ferries across the Lake Victoria and via Malaba and to the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) through a link from the Tanga line (Tanzania) to the rail network at Taveta (Kenya). Long term plans are presently underway to extend new railway lines between Uganda, Kenya (through the capital of Mombasa) and Burundi.

Each Agency and Organization have its own storage space for its activities.  There’s a storage facility provided at the Lake port which is managed by GPSB (Global Port Services Bujumbura). There are also a couple of privately owned buildings in Bujumbura that can be rented for storage. It’s possible to negotiate contracts for a short or long duration and prices vary. Indicative price range is from 4.6 USD to 5.65 USD per square meters. There are a couple of agencies that offer services in warehouse/stores management. This is useful in insecure areas where project staff has difficulties in accessing the beneficiaries. The rent of the warehouse space is done through a contract between the agency and the owner of the property.

Commercial Storage

Storage Used by Humanitarian Organizations

IRC:

Storage facility in three different locations. The items stored are mainly NFI’s:

• Bujumbura :       2,880 mt
• Muyinga :            986,13 mt
• Ruyigi :                 4,487,40 mt

Total Capacity : 8,353.53 m3

ICRC :

• Warehouse in Bujumbura 3400 mt, essentially for medical stock, plus a cold room of about 460 m3
• Fuel storage of 40,000 m3 (Interpetrol)
• Procurement via Nairobi, 80% via road à Nairobi-Uganda-Rwanda (Kayensa customs clearance point)
• Authorization for small planes DRC-Bujumbura and Nairobi-Bujumbura
• Big warehouse in Goma (DRC)
• Emergency stock of Essential Household Items for 2,000 households

MSF:

• 6 warehouses
  • Three warehouses in Bujumbura: one for pharmaceutical products, one as emergency stock and one for logistics
  • One warehouse in Gisuru
  • One warehouse for pharmaceutical products in Kininya
  • One warehouse in Ntita
• 12,000 liters of fuel in Bujumbura and 5,000 liters in Kininya

UNICEF:

• Two warehouses at Bollore and AMSA; health, nutritional and immunization products go through CAMEBU
• UNICEF has a small office in Gitega
• Corridor mostly used is Dar-Es-Salam (Tanzania)

WFP:

• Main warehouse is situated in Bujumbura, with a capacity of 6,500 mt, WFP is currently looking for another location, in order to increase storage capacity and avoid flooding.
• Warehouse in Gitega with a capacity of 6,500 mt
• Warehouse in Ngozi with a capacity of 8,500 mt

Total WFP storage capacity in Burundi is 21,500 mt

Burundi Red Cross:

• Five warehouses throughout the Country
• Bujumbura warehouse with a capacity of 2500 mt
• Gitega warehouse with a capacity of 5800 mt
• Muyinga warehouse with a capacity of 550 mt
• Kirundo warehouse with a capacity of 540 mt
• Ngozi warehouse with a capacity of 370 mt
• Total capacity Countrywide: 9760 mt

Public Sector Storage

The storage spaces are available for rent and are associated with the Airport and Lake port of Bujumbura management. (refer to the relevant paragraphs under GPSB and SOBUGEA)

Cold Chain

The Ministry of Health, EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization) manages the cold chain infrastructure. There is however two 20’ refrigerated containers at the airport managed by SOBUGEA for vaccines, cold chain use.

UNICEF works closely with the government in the procurement of vaccines for the EPI program.

There are 3 cold rooms on the premises of the EPI program maintained at a positive (+2 to +8 degrees centigrade) temperature. The cold rooms are powered by Maneurop Danfoss reciprocating compressors. In addition to these are 11 freezers each with a capacity of 67 liters. The supply of vaccines starts from the EPI office in Bujumbura to the Health Centers in the provinces which in turn supply the Health posts. Kerosene refrigerators with a freezer compartment and freezers are in use in the provinces for the cold chain. The program also has quite a substantial number of cool boxes, ice packs, vaccine carriers etc.

 For information on Burundi Storage assessment contact details, please see the following link:  4.5 Burundi Storage and Milling Company Contact List.

The grain production industry in Burundi is on a very small scale with food production generally focused on pulses, roots and tubers (potatoes), fruit and vegetables. However, there are reasonable quantities of rice and maize grown which is milled at small facilities in the district towns. Apart from MINOLACS, the milling facilities available in the country are mostly small operations milling for household consumption.

Milling Company MINOLACS

The storage space for raw grain is for a quantity of 3,000 tons and 2,000 tons for milled. The flour is packed in 50kg and 25kg bags with appropriate markings.

Milling Company JUMA HASSAN

Milling Company AZAM Burundi

The storage space for raw grain is for a quantity of 3,000 tons and 2,000 tons for milled. The flour is packed in 50kg and 25kg bags with appropriate markings.

Aline Milling

 For information on Burundi Milling company contact details, please see the following link:  4.5 Burundi Storage and Milling Company Contact List.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.