Burundi
2.1 Burundi Port of Bujumbura

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.
Port Location and Contacts
Country Burundi
Province Bujumbura
Town or City with Distance Bujumbura (3km)
Port's Complete Name Port of Bujumbura
Latitude -3.383333
Longitude 29.36667
Managing Company or Port Authority Global Port Services Burundi (GPSB
Management Contact Person

Mr. Bonaventure Sinzobakwira (Director)

Email: bonasi@gpsb.bi

Closest Airport and Frequent Airlines to/from International Destinations

Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (Bujumbura)

Air Burundi, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, SN Brussels, RwandAir, Air Tanzania


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.

Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk

Year 2019

Bulk (mt)

 n/a

Break bulk (mt)

202,900

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.


 Facilities

20 ft.

40 ft.

Container Facilities Available

YES

YES

Container Freight Station (CFS)

YES

YES

Refrigerated Container Stations

N/A

N/A

Other Capacity Details



Daily Take Off Capacity (Containers per day)

20


Total movement

812

2,711

Number of Reefer Stations (connection points)

N/A

N/A

Emergency Take-off Capacity (Give an indication)

N/A

N/A

Off take capacity of gang shift (in Containers per shift)

N/A

N/A

Main Storage Terminal

Total floor space 

Quantity

Floor Area (m2) 

Hangar H1 (for packages)

1

4,000

Hangar H2 (miscellaneous goods)

1

4,000

Hangar H3 & H4 (goods for export)

2

8,000

Hangars A1, 2, 3 ,4

3

2,560 total

Total


18,560 m2

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.

Security
ISPS Compliant No

Current ISPS Level

Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional

N/A
Police Boats Yes
Fire Engines Yes


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


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