DRC - Modernization of airport infrastructure

With regard to air transport in particular, the DRC has 500 landing strips, of which 101 are open to public traffic and 3 to international traffic (Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma. Kisangani is no longer used by international airlines).

The airport rehabilitation project aims, in particular, to open up the interior of the country. It is with this objective in mind that the expansion and modernization works at Murongo Airport in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, were launched in early June 2022. Funded entirely by the Government of the Republic, the modernization of Bunia Airport will facilitate access to Ituri Province and contribute to trade with other provinces.

The first phase involves extending the runway from 1,850 to 2,500 meters and widening it from 30 to 45 meters. The second phase will enlarge the parking area from 14,000 to 32,000 cubic meters, and the third will construct a passenger terminal with two separate arrival and departure circuits, covering an area of 3,500 cubic meters. The final phase will include the construction of the control tower, from which both ends of the runway will be visible, and the fire station.

These works have a cumulative execution time of 24 months. The rehabilitation of this infrastructure is in line with the government's program. The works will be carried out entirely by Mont Gabaon. This infrastructure, the only access route to the region, will allow for the revival of diamond production, the main resource of the Kasai region. This industrial activity, controlled by MIBA (Société minière de Bakwanha), partly owned by the State, will also allow this airport to be profitable.

Goma International Airport has been equipped with a new 26-meter-high control tower since November 2021, meeting international standards. This control tower is one of six airport structures completing the Goma Airport Security Improvement Project (PASAG), which began in 2015. The project was financed by the World Bank to the tune of $52 million, as well as by the Congolese government and MONUSCO.

Position

Reference

Space not available

Reserve this advertising space

Selected ad format

The file format is not recognized

Click here for
upload an ad

Click here to download
an announcement

Here drag and drop or
upload an ad

Send the ad up to 8 days after payment
A link will be sent to you by contact@via-agency.media

Reserved space
Announcement transmitted

If you want another location, you can move this ad

Reference

Mavivi Airport in Beni and Rughenda Airfield in Butembo will soon be modernized as part of the effort to open up air routes in the northern part of North Kivu province. The project involves expanding Mavivi Airport to meet international standards and modernizing Rughenda Airfield to serve as a secondary airport for Beni Airport.

In February 2022, a comprehensive agreement known as G2G was signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the State of Qatar. This agreement will facilitate the implementation of various projects, including the modernization of airport infrastructure such as Ndjili Airport in Kinshasa, Luano Airport in Lubumbashi, and Ndolo Airport. A partnership between the DRC and Brussels Airlines is also being considered for the modernization of airport infrastructure.

The Congolese and South African governments also intend to collaborate on modernizing the DRC's airport infrastructure, drawing inspiration from the South African model. To this end, a fact-finding visit took place in Mbuji-Mayi in July 2022. Mbuji-Mayi Airport is a major national air hub for the DRC. The construction, rehabilitation, and modernization work on this airport in Kasai-Oriental province is scheduled to take twenty-four months. The new runway will measure 250 meters long and 110 meters wide.

The ICCN wants to launch an airline in 2023

The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) is working to launch an airline called Congo Air Nature in 2023. The goal is to reduce the distances between forest conservation sites. Implementing this project will require funding of between $25 and $30 million. This funding is necessary for the acquisition of aircraft, the rehabilitation of airstrips, and other expenses. Congo Air Nature will help address the issue of transportation, in a context where Congolese people struggle to move within the country, largely due to the poor quality of roads and the limited number of domestic flights. The DRC is a country of over 2.3 million km² with an estimated population of 89.56 million in 2020, according to the World Bank.

This company should also allow stakeholders in the forestry sector to access reserves and conduct reconnaissance flights. This is with the aim of better preserving the forests of the second largest country in Africa after Algeria.