Project Brief
Lake Kivu Harbor Transport Project
Implementing Partner
TradeMark Africa (TMA), in coordination with Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA)
Implementation Period
2018 - 2023
Project Participants
Cross-Border Traders
Implementation Strategy
- A Design and Supervise Consultant was contracted to review the port designs, prepare tender documents for the construction, and supervise the construction of the ports.
- A Transaction Advisor was contracted to carry out market sounding on the attractiveness of the project to potential investors and assist the Government in recruiting an operator for the ports and ferry services.
- To ensure safety on the Lake, a firm was contracted to conduct Hydrographic Surveys and produce the Navigation Charts for the Aids to Navigation on Lake Kivu.
- Construction of the ports is ongoing in Rubavu and Rusizi Districts, and the next phase will be for the construction of Nkora and Karongi ports.
- As construction progresses, the Government will undertake a process to attract port and ferry operators to ensure that transportation on the lake is enhanced upon completion of the harbour facilities.
Project Rationale
Rwanda’s Vision 2020 and EDPRS 2 include a Lake Kivu transport system, which a 2017 TMA study found viable. Water transport is considered a more economical and safer option than roads, and the TMA is assisting in securing investment.
The TMA is supporting the development of harbours in Rubavu, Rusizi, Karongi, and Rutsiro (Nkora) to encourage private sector involvement in ports and ferry services. The 2017 study forecasts annual transport savings of $20.4 million and $17.7 million in prevented fatalities.
Better lake connections should boost cross-border trade by offering more pricing options. Key goods traded include cement (south to north) and potatoes and dairy products (north to south). Improved links, especially between Karongi and neighbours plus direct DRC access (which has existing ferry services to Idjwi), will further increase trade.
The main component of the Lake Kivu Transport project is the construction of four harbor facilities on Lake Kivu. The project commenced with construction of the first two, at Rubavu and Rusizi in January 2020. The two districts are at the busiest border crossings between Rwanda and DRC and together represent about 70% of Rwanda’s total cross border trade volumes. In addition to the construction of the harbor facilities, TMA is providing Transaction Advisory services to GoR to attract private sector investment for management of ports and barge operations and to review the marine legal, regulatory, and institutional framework.
Rubavu is situated on the northern end of the lake and is the main gateway for trade to Goma and the North Kivu province in the DRC. Rusizi is at the Southern end of the lake and is the main gateway for trade towards Bukavu and the South Kivu province in the DRC. Nkora is situated between Rubavu and Karongi ports, at about 20Km from Rubavu. Due to its location, it is the main gateway for trade to Idjwi Island (DRC) and the North Kivu Province in the DRC. Karongi is in the middle of the lake from Rubavu to Rusizi ports and is the main gateway for trade towards Idjwi Island (DRC).
TMA has funded the construction of Cross Border Markets in Rubavu and Rusizi and supported several cooperatives under the women in trade programme. This project is integral to the overall TMA Rwanda Cross Border Trade programme which is enhancing cross border traders’ access to markets and increasing their competitiveness.