Congo, Republic of the
3.6 Republic of the Congo Additional Services
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Overview

The Republic of the Congo offers a vast range of services going from cars and handling equipment rentals, shipping services, printing and publishing services, financial and microcredit services, security services, forwarding services, transportation services.

Some of the providers might have limited availability of services and equipment and it is strongly recommended to have more than one LTA in place with essential providers.

For more information on company contact details, please see the following link: 4.10 Republic of the Congo Additional Services Contact List.

Accommodation

Accommodation/housing is available in the main cities Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Hotel prices are relatively high. The prices for residencies especially for long term stays has cut in half during the last two years this is mainly due to the down fall of oil prices and the residential development in Brazzaville which increased drastically the offer. Most of the houses especially new developments respond to the Minimum operating Residential Security Standards (MORSS) criteria.  

Electricity and Power

In the Republic of the Congo the state defines and implements the national electricity policy throughout the territory. Through the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulics, it exercises a trusteeship on the Electricity Sector Development Fund (FDSEL) in charge of the financing of the sector, as well as on the National Agency for Rural Electrification (ANER), competent to carry out, the work of rural electrification.

The Congolese electricity market is managed by the National Electricity Company (SNE), which is the public company that manages the public utility of electricity, founded in 1967. The SNE is intended to: "directly or indirectly manage the activities of the production, transport, distribution and marketing of electrical energy;" SNE ensures its operations of maintenance and maintenance of electrical infrastructure either directly or outsourcing through services contracts concluded with public or private entities.

The estimated national demand in the Republic of the Congo is 355 MW, however the rate of access to electricity is nowadays of just 45% in urban areas and 5.6% in rural areas and which is not granted 24 hours. The supply is irregular with daily interruptions several hours every day even in the capital Brazzaville.

Already, the Congo has an installed capacity of about 600 MW coming mainly from the CEC's thermal power plant in Pointe-Noire (300 MW), Brazzaville (32 MW) from the Djeno gas plant (50 MW) plus the hydroelectric plants of Imboulou(120MW), Moukoukoulou(74MW) and Liouesso (19,2MW).

Electricity in Congo: 220V, alternating at 60 cycles per second, 1500 km of high tension cable transports the electricity generated at hydroelectric plants to the urban centres. This network has been implemented by the company China National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Corporation (CMEC). But in order to guarantee a constant supply of electricity, the majority of companies and residencies do have their own back-up generators.

Electricity and Power Summary Table

Production Unit

Type

(Hydroelectric, Thermal, etc.)

Installed

Capacity (MW)

Current Production (MW)

CEC Pointe Noire

Thermal

300

 

Brazzaville

Thermal

32

 

Djeno

Gas

50

 

Imboulou

Hydroelectric

120

 

Moukoukoulou

Hydroelectric

74

 

Liouesso

Hydroelectric

19.2

 

Imported Electriciry

From DRC (Inga)

50

 

Financial Services

The Republic of the Congo has currently eleven commercial banks registered with BEAC29. The banks are mostly privately-owned subsidiaries of foreign institutions and the three largest commercial banks take almost 60% of total assets in the banking system.

The commercial banks provide credit and other services primarily to large companies involved in the sectors of: oil, forestry, telecommunications, import-export, and services. Some private banks has started to offer loans of up to $100,000 to individuals and small businesses in recent years.

The microfinance sector is of a reasonable size and is expanding. Per the BEAC, the microfinance (MFI) sector is becoming increasingly importantly. The major microfinance institutions are in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire but are also located in rural areas. Today 62 microfinance service providers operate in the country including banks, small and micro firm development institutions, NGOs, pure MFIs.

 

BSCA Bank

The social capital to the creation of the BSCA. Bank is 53 billion FCFA.

 The shareholder participation of the Bank places the Chinese agricultural Bank (BAC) in the lead with 50% , 8 Congolese and French private shareholders with 21.5% the national oil Company of the Congo (SNPC)  15%, the Congolese State is 12%, and the Society Magminerals Potassium of Congo has 1.5%

Company Overview

Company Name

Banque Sino-Congolaise pour l'Afrique (BSCA Bank)

Address

Avenue de l’amitié, Brazzaville

 

Available?

Comments

(max / min transfer or exchange amounts, etc.)

Has IBAN, BIC, or SWIFT number?

Yes

 

Provides currency exchange?

Yes

 

Will initiate / receive wire transfers?

Yes

 

Provides Loan / Credit services?

Yes

 

Other Comments or Key Information

Subsidiary of the Chinese agricultural Bank (BAC)

Other Locations

Region(s)

Service Location(s)

Brazzaville

Brazzaville

Banque Postale du Congo

Created in 2012 the bank is a societe anonime with 10 billion CFA capital. Owned by the Congolese State for 80% and 20% by Societe des Postes et d’Epargne du Congo (SOPECO) which is the national postal company. The bank offers financial services including loans, salary payment and fund transfers. It has 42 branches in Congo located both in rural and urban areas.

Company Overview

Company Name

Banque Postale du Congo

Address

Blvd. Denis Sassou Nguesso rond-point de la Poste.

 

Available?

Comments

(max / min transfer or exchange amounts, etc.)

Has IBAN, BIC, or SWIFT number?

Yes

 

Provides currency exchange?

Yes

 

Will initiate / receive wire transfers?

Yes

 

Provides Loan / Credit services?

Yes

 

Other Comments or Key Information

 

 

Other Locations

Region(s)

Service Location(s)

All departments

Nationwide

Ekobank

Ecobank, whose official name is Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI), is a public limited liability company, was established as a bank holding company in 1985 as a pan-African banking conglomerate, with banking operations in 36 African countries. It is the leading independent regional banking group in West Africa and Central Africa, serving wholesale and retail customers

Company Overview

Company Name

Ecobank

Address

Av. Amilcar Cabral Imm. ARC 3rd floor, Brazzaville

 

Available?

Comments

(max / min transfer or exchange amounts, etc.)

Has IBAN, BIC, or SWIFT number?

Yes

 

Provides currency exchange?

Yes

 

Will initiate / receive wire transfers?

Yes

 

Provides Loan / Credit services?

Yes

 

Other Comments or Key Information

 

 

Other Locations

Region(s)

Service Location(s)

Central Africa and Sub Sahara. 36 Countries

Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, Oyo, Dolisie

Credit du Congo

Created in April 2002, Crédit Lyonnais Congo quickly established itself as one of the major banks in the Republic of the Congo. In March 2007, it took the credit denomination of the Congo, following the redemption of Crédit Lyonnais by Crédit Agricole.

In September 2009, the bank was bought by the Moroccan group Attijariwafa Bank who currently owns 91% of the shares.

Company Overview

Company Name

Credit du Congo

Address

Avenue Amilcar Cabral (face Radisson), Brazzaville

 

Available?

Comments

(max / min transfer or exchange amounts, etc.)

Has IBAN, BIC, or SWIFT number?

Yes

 

Provides currency exchange?

Yes

 

Will initiate / receive wire transfers?

Yes

 

Provides Loan / Credit services?

Yes

 

Other Comments or Key Information

 

Other Locations

Region(s)

Service Location(s)

 

7 selling points ; 4 in Brazzaville, 2 in Pointe-Noire and 1 in Pokola.

BGFI Bank Group S.A.,

BGFIBank Group, whose full name is BGFIBank Group S.A., is a financial services organization headquartered in Gabon. The group has subsidiaries in eight countries including Gabon, Benin, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, France and Cote d'Ivoire.

Company Overview

Company Name

BGFI Bank Group S.A.,

Address

Avenue de l’amitié, Brazzaville

 

Available?

Comments

(max / min transfer or exchange amounts, etc.)

Has IBAN, BIC, or SWIFT number?

Yes

 

Provides currency exchange?

Yes

 

Will initiate / receive wire transfers?

Yes

 

Provides Loan / Credit services?

Yes

 

Other Comments or Key Information

 

Other Locations

Region(s)

Service Location(s)

 

Brazzaville, Pointe Noire

BCI

Bank BCI was created in October 2006.

Company Overview

Company Name

Banque Commerciale Internationale (BCI)

Address

Av. Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville

 

Available?

Comments

(max / min transfer or exchange amounts, etc.)

Has IBAN, BIC, or SWIFT number?

Yes

 

Provides currency exchange?

Yes

 

Will initiate / receive wire transfers?

Yes

 

Provides Loan / Credit services?

Yes

 

Other Comments or Key Information

 

Other Locations

Region(s)

Service Location(s)

 

Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, Dolisie, Gamboma, Impfondo

Societe Generale Congo

One of the first European financial services groups. An actor in the real economy for over 150 years, Société Générale employs more than 148 000 employees, present in 76 countries.

Present in the Republic of Congo since April 2012.

Company Overview

Company Name

Societe General Congo

Address

Av. Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville

 

Available?

Comments

(max / min transfer or exchange amounts, etc.)

Has IBAN, BIC, or SWIFT number?

Yes

 

Provides currency exchange?

Yes

 

Will initiate / receive wire transfers?

Yes

 

Provides Loan / Credit services?

Yes

 

Other Comments or Key Information

 

Other Locations

Region(s)

Service Location(s)

 

Brazzaville, Pointe Noire

Clearing and Forwarding Agents

As of today, there are around 30 major freight forwarders in the Republic of the Congo. Some of them offer an integrated freight forwarding service while the most important part of the process remains the custom clearance.

Most forwarding agents are in Pointe-Noire as it is the entry point for most imports. Many of them also have branches in Brazzaville usually connected to the airport.

Handling Equipment

Handling equipment is partially available in Congo and can be found through companies such as: Hubei Star Import & Export Trade Co., Ltd or General Leasing Congo located in Pointe Noire. Also some big transportation or handling Companies may be willing to rent the equipment on a case-by-case basis. Pallets can be ordered locally to the many timber companies operating in the Country.

Postal and Courier Services

As of today, the sector counts, in addition to the public postal operator (the Post and Savings Society of the Congo-SOPECO), 46 private postal operators of which 7 with international capability including DHL CONGO and UPS.

SOPECO today has a network consisting of 37 post offices, mainly concentrated in the major cities of the country, Brazzaville, Pointe Noire and Dolisie.

ARPCE is the Agency for the regulation of posts and electronic communications, the Congolese authority for the control, monitoring and regulation of the postal and electronic communications sectors.

Printing and Publishing

The Republic of the Congo has recently developed this sector. There are currently around 10 printing and publishing business located mainly in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.

Taxi Companies

There are no official Taxi Companies in The Republic of the Congo.

There is no central booking system for taxis and in principle they must be called on the street.  There are plenty of taxis available in all major towns and are very easy to recognize. The Taxies are not MOSS compliant and sometimes are in very bad mechanical conditions.

Prices are negotiable but in general between US$ 1.5-3 depending on the distance and the time of the day  After 22:00pm in the evening taxis are generally harder to find.

Vehicle Rental

Most of the services are located in Pointe Noire. Cars are available with or without driver and start from USD 60-70 per day for a small vehicle.

Waste Management and Disposal Services

The Congolese Ministry of Tourism and Environment (Ministère du tourisme et de environnement) is responsible for solid waste Management.              

The task is carried out through various services such as the National Health Service, municipalities and the police.

Solid waste management activities are decentralized at Provincial level and fall under the responsibility of the Provincial Government through the environment unit. There is no recycling programme in the country.

Waste Disposal-non-Hazardous 

The place of destruction is determined by the municipality.

Waste Disposal-Hazardous 

The place of destruction is determined by the municipality.


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.

 

 

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