Burundi — Logistics Services

Does local supply (domestic refinery production and imports combined) meet the needs of the country, especially for aviation and ground fuels? Not consistent

• There is no domestic refinery.

There are shortages but this is more to do with actual refining performance in Kenya and the lengthy road transport required to deliver fuel to the distributors in Burundi.

• Fuel is transported by road from Tanzania and Kenya by fuel tankers.

More detailed narrative

Fuel distribution by road is well organized but fuel shortages do occur due to the fuel pipeline having insufficient capacity to meet demand. A new pipeline is planned but this will not be operational before 2009.

There is no refinery in Burundi thus the country relies on Kenya for laboratory and testing services.

Hydropower provides virtually 100% of electricity in Burundi, although there is a set of standby diesel units with a capacity of 5.5 MW was installed. Burundi’s total electrical consumption equals 148 GWh, of which 120 GWh was supplied by hydropower. The country’s per capita electricity consumption totals 6,300 kWh/year and 1,948 kWh/year for domestic consumption.

Information not provided.

• ONATEL

Office National des Télécommunications (ONATEL) was created by a presidential decree N°100/146 du 8/11/1979.

ONATEL is a state owned corporation in charge of the provision of telecommunication services placed under the administration of the Ministry of Telecommunications.

ONATEL has a main objective of management of telecommunications which means transmission of all kinds of messages (wires, cables etc); radio transmission for public service. Message transmissions are by telephone (landlines), fax, internet, mobile phones etc.

The institution provides internet service (Dial-up, Cybercafé, ISP)

In order to diversify its services ONATEL created a section, ONAMOB for mobile telephony in November 2005. This service is available in all the provinces of the country.

ONATEL Fixed line prices are as follows:

GSM Providers

GSM mobile phone network and SIM cards are available. Price is around US$0.30/minute.

UCOM mobile phone network covers the majority of regional areas and cities. ECONET, (formerly Spacetel Burundi) is a 65% owned subsidiary of Econet Wireless of South Africa. AFRICELL is majority owned by VTL Holdings of Dubai etc. ONATEL also provides GSM service.

Burundi’s mobile telephone sector grew 65% in 2007 due partly to improved security conditions in the country. Investment in the sector rose to USD71 million in 2007, from USD43 million in 2006, according to the telecoms regulator (ARCT).

• ONAMOB

Burundi’s state-owned mobile operator ONAMOB’s subscriber base grew by 133 percent in the first half of 2008 to 140,000 after it improved its network service.

The nation’s second-biggest mobile phone now plans to more than treble these user numbers to 500,000 by 2010.

The company is now working on roaming and credit-transfer services which should be operational by December 2008.

• UCOM

COVERAGE MAP OF UCOM:

• ECONET

Econet Wireless Burundi is part of the Econet Wireless Group, a Botswana-registered telecommunications group which is one of the top telecoms operators in Africa and one of the few African businesses with a global reach with operations and offices in Africa, the East Asia Pacific Rim and the UK. The Econet Group has grown into a total communications company offering mobile & fixed telecommunications services and products, satellite services and Internet solutions across its businesses.

COVERAGE MAP OF ECONET:

• AFRICELL

Africell Burundi is a subsidiary of VTEL Holdings, a Dubai-based telecommunications company. VTEL acquired Africell in a January 2008 transaction. Africell possesses a GSM and WiMax license.

USAN-Bu

USAN (United States African Network) claims to be a leading company in the field of the communication, satellites networks and underwater cables USAN collaborates with internet suppliers and telecommunication services in the US USAN offers to its customers in the whole country, complete line service of high-quality, high performance internet, intranet and extranet solutions giving users an increase in productivity and profitability of internet technology.

Tariffs

WIFI

A deposit of 150,000BIF

Installation costs are from 50-100,000BIF. This covers the antenna, poles etc.

DEDICATED.

Cost of antenna and installation is 1,800USD.

CBINET

The Centre Burundais d’Internet(CBINET) is a company governed by the Burundian legislation since August 1998. Its head-quarter is in Bujumbura, Chaussée Prince Louis RWAGASORE, N°157.

The Company aims to conceive and carry out all business and industrial transactions of an unspecified general nature and more particularly those related to Internet.

The following services are offered:

a) free residential internet connection for subscribers.

b) Wireless internet WIMAX.

c) Registration of domain names.

d) Web hosting.

e) Network installation.

f) Internet access via VSAT.

TARIFF.

Prices for internet subscription vary from 70USD to 1,750 a month depending on the bandwidth.

No restriction of communication equipment importation except for a VSAT, Mobile Satellite Phones, which requires approval and release by the ARCT (Agence de la Regulation des Contrôles de Télécommunications). Submission of declaration is also needed to clear the goods from the customs. This should be obtained from relevant ministries (Defense & Foreign Affairs).

The UN Security Cell has implemented a VHF communication network covering the whole country. The UN agencies have their own channel and can use the existing communication network. Communication is not reliable due to the hills and mountains in the country, as several repeater stations need to be fixed to ensure better coverage of the country.

• SOSUMO

The SOSUMO company which was created in 1988, is located in Rutana Province in the South-east of the Republic of Burundi, the natural site of Moso at Gihofi village, which is about 180 kilometres from Bujumbura.

The company covers an area of 5,800 hectares, at an altitude of 1,200m between River Muyovozi and River Mitsindozi, tributaries of Malagarazi river that forms the border with the United Republic of Tanzania. The sugar quality (or its industrial value) depends on the sugar quality contained in the juice and the juice quality of the cane.

The cane cultivated by SOSUMO is rich, about 14% of sugar and has a fibre of 12.5%.

The company is aiming at:

- increasing sugarcane production by irrigating some plots.

- Progressively replacing the old equipment.

- Making various improvements to produce 35,000 tones from 33,000 tones today, within three years.

- Transform the molasses into carburizing, pharmarceutical and consumable alcohol.

LIST OF POTENTIAL FOOD SUPPLIERS IN BURUNDI.

The Burundi industry is mainly an agriculture based industry or what might be called agro industries. Industry in Burundi is engaged in processing agricultural raw materials. The Bujumbura district is the hub of industrial activity. The industrial sector contributes around 18% of the total GDP.

The process industries deal in coffee, tea, cotton, timber and edible oils. There are a numerous small scale industries which manufacture items of daily use like shoes, furniture, soap, goods made of metal and insecticides. The industrial sector in Burundi suffered a bad spate during the war and the consequent imposition of sanctions. It took its toll on the foreign exchange and the growth of the domestic market was hampered.

The growth of the industrial sector depends upon the availability of developed infrastructure as well as stable political set up to support such growth.

• ALTEBU sprl

• METALUSA SA

Created in 1953 mainly for the metallic constructions occupies an area of 5,000m2. Since 1992 the company has been involved in sales and repairs of machines, medical equipment, diesel engines and pumps, generators etc. The following services are also offered; construction of stores, water reservoirs, bridges, boats etc. The main source of imported goods is from US, Japan and EU. Metalusa are agents for BIA (SA), Atlas Copco, Hatz etc. Some of the customers have been UNICEF, FAO, Belgian embassy, BINUB etc.

• UTEMA TRAVHYDRO

The company mainly manufactures PVC pipes for water systems (PN16 and 25) and waste water as per the ISO and DIN standards. The production capacity is about 250kg/hr which will be increased to 350kg/hr with a second production line. Metal door and window frames, roof supports, nails, binding wires, chicken wire and electrodes have been added to the list of goods manufactured in the factory.

Pipe fittings are also imported and sold on the premises of the factory.

Although accommodations in rural areas can be spartan, Bujumbura hosts a number of international-grade hotels, catering to a mainly a U.N. and international clientele. An international-brand hotel to be found is Novotel, with costs of about $120 a night. Other notable hotels include the Source du Nil ($120/night), the Hotel Botanika ($85/night), the Clos de Limbas ($70/night) and the Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika.