Fuel Overview

The SONABHY (Société Nationale Burkinabè d’Hydrocarbures ) under the authority of the Ministry of Trade, holds a monopoly on the import and storage of hydrocarbons in the country. Supplies of petroleum products are mainly contracted through calls for tenders and long-term contracts (suppliers with port storage capacities and direct purchases).

The transit storage of products purchased on the international market is carried out at the Storage Company (STSL) in Lomé (Togo), at the ORYX depot in Cotonou (Benin), at the National Company for the Marketing of Petroleum Products (SONACOP) in Téma and Bolgatanga (Ghana) and GESTOCI in Côte d'Ivoire.
Hydrocarbon products purchased are generated from coastal depots to inland depots in Burkina Faso by rail (SITARAIL) and road (private transporters). SONABHY has three main storage depots located in Bobo Dioulasso, Bingo and Péni with currently construction projects ongoing in Bingo to increase the storage capacity.

Hydrocarbon products are then distributed to end consumers through key account players or customers (members of the Groupement Professionnel Pétrolier) who obtain their supplies directly from SONABHY. These large account customers (around 85 as date of September 2021) consist of marketers, subsidiaries of multinationals (Vivo Energy, Total Energies, Orix Energy, Ola Energy) and independent national companies distributing petroleum products (Otam, Petrofa).

Brochure on SONABHY (French version) here.

Last October 2018, the SONABHY had obtained its ISO 9001/2015 certification.

For more information on government and fuel provider contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.7 Fuel Providers Contact List.

Information may also be found at: http://www.mytravelcost.com/petrol-prices/ which is updated monthly. 

Fuel Pricing

The prices of hydrocarbons and butane gas, together with the duties and taxes levied on hydrocarbon imports, are fixed monthly by the CIDPH (Comité Interministériel de Détermination des Prix des Hydrocarbure) which includes 13 indicators to structure the price.
The isolation of the country and taxes partly explain the relatively high level of hydrocarbon prices in Burkina Faso to compare with others UEMOA countries.

Seasonal Variations 

Fuel Transportation

SONABHY has a fleet of 1300 tank trucks (capacity from 30,000 to 65,000 liters) contracted through private transporters to collect hydrocarbon from coastal depots to inland depots in Burkina. Then marketers manage the delivery of hydrocarbons to their own gas station or depots across the country.

Standards, Quality and Testing

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.

Overview

The road transport market is highly developed in Burkina Faso and represents the first mean to carry goods in and out of the country as per showed in the below table from the last 2018 statistics report published by the MTMUSR (Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité Urbaine et de la Sécurité Routière) in December 2019[1].

This is also highlighted with the below figures related to the trade volume in 2019 published by INSD[2] (Institut National de la Statistique et de la Démographie ) showing goods are mainly transported by road first if comparing with the sea and air transportation.

According to the last statistics report of CCI published in March 2020[3], 2 356 companies are registered as transporters and offer a remarkably high number of trucks available within the country (trailer, semi-trailer, etc). However, according to main syndicate of transporters represented by the FUTRB (Faitière Unique des Transporteurs Routier du Burkina), there is around 8000 transporters companies operating in Burkina Faso as follows:

• 80% are micro and small size companies with less than five truck and not legally registered
• 16% are medium size companies and legally operating in country
• 3% are administratively organized companies
• Only 1% are considered as professional and developed companies

As observed, transporter companies belong mainly to the informal sector with a high number micro companies without any legal registrations and owning a few trucks. Therefore, this is a point to be considered when contracting a company to respect all the local legislation and to be in position to meet all customers’ requirements.

In this regard, the DGTTM is implementing since 2019 the Licence d’Exploitation de Transport Routier, a mandatory certificate for all the transporters to operate in the country. The transporter must submit a set of documents to obtain this certificate then a blue number plate will be assigned for each registered truck. A blue plate is stating that the truck is dedicated for transportation of goods and passed the yearly technical control with the CCVA.
Target is 2024-2025 to achieve this process with campaign of awareness from the DGTTM regional offices to mobilize the transporters to apply for the license.

Organization & Structure of National Transporters

There are 19 different unions of transporters in country which created some issues in term of negotiations with the government illustrated by several and repetitive strikes in the past. Last February 2021, an umbrella structure gathering all the union was created under the FUTRB then has presented officially the board to the MTMUSR in June 2021. Main challenges for the road transport in country is to renew the fleet characterized by trucks in poor mechanic condition (mainly due to the overloaded practice) and to work on the awareness of road safety. In this regard, the government has launched last 25 October 2021 the first phase of subscriptions to the credit access mechanism on behalf of the transporter for the renewal of the fleet. The budget allocated for this first phase with the support of the World Bank represents 5.500.000.000 CFA with a target of 150 new trucks (here the DGTTM ‘s communication)
In addition, the FUTRB is doing advocacy to have a ceiling price system in place  as of October 2021, below is the current T.KM[4] (will depend on the type and destination of the cargo)

• From 32 to 44 FCFA at international level
• From 80 to 160 FCFA at national level 

Transporter capacity to meet humanitarian needs

 At this stage, domestics and humanitarian needs are fully covered by the national capacity of the market and none tension to meet both private and humanitarian requirements was observed during the past years. Even in case of a sudden increase of transportation needs by the humanitarian community, the national market will be able to absorb an influx in demand.

Source: INFORM Risk Index September 2021

However, the main challenge is the access to IDPs located in areas where security is the major issue (North, North Center, Sahel, Est regions). Transporters are reluctant or refuse to dispatch their trucks in those borders regions due to the high risk of ambush, kidnapping by terrorist groups and the increase of IEDs on the road.

Regional Transporters Overview

To have a better understanding and knowledge of the transportation sector within the main regions impacted by the humanitarian crisis, meetings with syndicates were conducted during field visits last October 2021.

For more information on transport company & syndicate contact details, please see the following link: 4.8 Transporter 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.

[1] Full report available here

[2] Full report available here

[3] Full report available here

[4] Ton per Kilometre

Manual Labor is available within all the country and can be implemented through different channels like a private logistics company, a job center agency or inclusive with a service agreement. This service is usually contracted on daily basis for warehousing operations with a flat rate charged per ton or per unit and according to the type of operation. Additional costs can occur such like PPE (Personal Protective Equipment e.g. helmet, closed shoes, gloves, etc), liability insurance or a supervisor. To ensure a permanent manual labour service, it is recommended to implement a long-term agreement which also provides an advantage to maintain the same workers deployed in the warehouse.

For more information on company contact details, please see the following link: 4.11 Additional Services Contact List.

[1] Exchange rate 1US$ = 552,45 FCFC (BCAO, 8/09/2021)

Overview

The MDENP (Ministère de l’Économie numérique, des Postes et de la Transformation Digitale) is responsible of the development of infrastructures and to promote a local industry based on ICT (Information Communication &Technology). In addition, the MDENP is working in closed coordination with the ARCEP, an independent structure in charge to monitor compliance with regulations and commitments made by network operators and service providers, internet DNS (Domain Name System) domain management, approval of imported/local made electronic equipment or radio frequencies management. As of September 2021, three private operators share the mobile market in Burkina Faso: Moov Africa, Telecel Faso SA, and Orange Burkina Faso SA. According to the last Q1 2021 report from ARCEP[1], there is currently a total of 23 466 416 active sim cards in country for a population estimated around 21 million persons. There is no restriction to register a sim card and only requires a valid identity card to buy either a postpaid or prepaid subscription. Then, all current operators have a broad range of mobile plans and internet solutions for both individual and business with competitive offers and bundles. In addition, there is also ISPs companies available in country offering VSAT (Very Smart Aperture Terminal) installation, fiber connection or IT solution (server, maintenance etc.)   

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: 4.11 Additional Services Contact List.

Telecommunications Regulations

ARCEP is the regulatory authority in charge to manage, to deliver authorizations and to control the frequencies. For the below equipment under a regulation in place, a process of certification (more information here) and a license to operate/use the equipment in country (list of forms available here) are required.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

The United Nations agencies have a national telecom system under the same umbrella and managed by UNDSS (United Nations Department of Safety and Security). A common radio room is operating 24/7 from Ouagadougou.

Meanwhile, WFP is leading a project to implement a Common Technology Services to its partners, NGOs and other humanitarian organizations (more information here).

Photo: WFP/ICT Department

In this regard, WFP ICT has opened last November 2021 in Djibo (Sahel region) a cybercafe located in the UNHCR office. WFP ICT team has installed a V-SAT solution with a free access to internet (dedicated room with equipment and Wi-Fi) including backup up system with generator and solar panels. In this area, the mobile network coverage is unstable due to antennas damaged by the armed groups.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

For the government, the development of the fiber optic network is a priority in 2021 with the aim to boost the digital economy, to offer quality services, connectivity and technological innovation. In country, Virtual Technologies & Solutions, Group Vivendi Africa, Orange and Moov Africa are the main operators developing the fiber optic technology.

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

As date of September 2021, three mobile companies are operating in country with a license valid for 15 years and renewable by the ARCEP:

• Moov Africa with a license valid until 21/06/2037
• Orange Burkina Faso SA with a license valid until 27/05/2035
• Telecel Faso SA with a license valid until 27/05/2035

National coverage is not fully effective considering many remote areas are not connected to any network. Regarding this matter, the ARCEP – through the Universal Service – is managing a dedicated fund and the project implementation to allow localities deemed unprofitable by operators and people with low purchasing power to access electronic communications services.

For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.

[1] Report available here

[2] Depending on the area, source ARCEP – further information here

Generic country information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For a general overview of country data related to the service and supply sectors, please consult the following sources:

The Observatory of Economic Complexity – MIT (OEC): (http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/)

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.