The Transport General Assembly, which took place from June 13 to 14, 2024, reviewed the challenges that haunt the sector and proposed related solutions. The challenges include the fuel shortage situation where transporters are not prioritized, the lack of reliable data on the vehicle fleet, the absence of road signs, roads that do not meet standards… Burundi Eco will devote a file to this sector while returning to the major concerns
Among the country’s strengths in the transport sector is a very cost-competitive rail and road mode.
The transport general meeting was held while the country is suffering from a recurring fuel shortage causing an increase in the cost of transport. However, the challenges are national and international in urban, lake and air transport. This has led to solutions being proposed.
In the first article, Burundi Eco will talk about the weaknesses and strengths in the transport sector.
Weaknesses
In the presentation on strategies for improving the planning of transport sector management – diagnostic study, Consolateur Nitunga, advisor to the general management of transport, returns to the weaknesses in road infrastructure, in air transport and in lake and maritime transport…
As regards road infrastructure, Mr. Nitunga deplores the non-existence of an operational road database and a multi-year maintenance programme, insufficient knowledge of the road network and its condition, and the old classification of the road network as administrative and non-functional.
It also highlights the significant delay in periodic maintenance and rehabilitation of important corridor roads, the insufficient resources of the Enterprise Working Capital Fund (FRN) in relation to maintenance needs, the non-existence of design, execution and maintenance standards, the inadequacy of technical personnel and material resources and the plethora of administrative personnel, the absence of a road master plan.
As for road transport services, Mr. Nitunga notes the absence of regulatory implementing texts for the highway code and the law on internal transport, the insufficient application of legislative and regulatory texts, the absence of a policy and a road safety and prevention program.
“The fragmentation of operations (registration, driving licenses, operating authorization, technical inspection) between several ministries and lack of coordination between services, insufficient knowledge of the vehicle fleet and operators, insufficient resources (personnel, equipment, financial resources) of public institutions also constitute a challenge,” he points out before recalling the absence of a regulatory system to improve the quality of services and promote professionalism, insufficient management of strategic thinking functions, market knowledge (supplies and demands), insufficient supervision of operators, the inadequacy or absence of professional transport companies, the absence of urban facilities (bus stations, parking lots) and the absence of private investment in the sector.
Air and sea transport struggle to convince
Air transport in turn suffers from the absence of regulatory texts implementing the civil aviation code, the insufficiency of qualified technical personnel and in particular of certified inspectors from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the absence of a training plan, the incompatibility of certain missions of the Civil Aviation Authority of Burundi (AACB), the absence of regulation of ground handling services and of a clear distribution of responsibilities of the actors on the platform, the airline which is non-operational and not certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and loss-making, the absence of a policy and a strategy for the development of the air transport industry.
Concerning lake and maritime transport, Mr. Nitunga speaks of the absence of implementing texts for the navigation code and the decree establishing the Maritime Port and Rail Authority (AMPF).
“It does not yet have sufficient human, material and financial resources,” he explains before indicating that the port infrastructure and equipment are degraded and insufficient.
For him, the port of Bujumbura is silted up and subject to erosion. Navigation safety is insufficient and the dilapidated fleet is insufficient and not adapted to needs.
He points out the absence of a ship repair centre at the port of Bujumbura and the absence of bilateral agreements between Burundi and the countries of the lake transport system (Tanzania, Zambia) to resolve specific problems and act in a concerted manner.
The corridors of opening up in the rhythm
The country’s access corridors are in turn faced with the poor condition of the sections of the corridor roads on Burundian territory, the non-existence of a national load control system, the low capacity of national road transporters, the long delays in customs clearance formalities at the port of Bujumbura, the absence of a national consultation framework bringing together the public administration and private operators – an effective national facilitation committee, the absence of bilateral agreements between Burundi and the transit countries on the corridors (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia) to resolve specific problems and the absence of regulation in the promotion of the corridors.
Certainly, there are strengths, among others, the existence of a revised road code, the liberalization of services, short transport distances, the existence of an urban transport plan for the city of Bujumbura and the Burundi Public Transport Office (OTRACO), the existence of a revised civil aviation code, the creation of the AACB, the existence of a master plan for civil aviation and the development of Bujumbura airport, the concession for the operation of the port of Bujumbura, a rail and road mode that is very competitive in cost…
#Burundi #Eco #Transport #development #support #profitable