ARNOLAC
ARNOLAC is a Burundian inland-waterway shipping company operating cargo vessels on Lake Tanganyika.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
ARNOLAC, formally Société de l’Armement Nord des Grands Lacs, is a private Burundian inland-waterway transport company based at the Port of Bujumbura. It operates cargo boats on Lake Tanganyika, linking Burundi with neighboring markets and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its business is centered on the movement of bulk and general cargo, including cement, reinforcing steel, sugar, maize, fuel and other commodities transported by barges, tugs, self-propelled vessels and tankers. The company developed from the fleet formerly managed by the Belgian Compagnie des Grands Lacs. In 1965, that fleet was divided equally between the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Zaïrois and the organization that would become ARNOLAC. ARNOLAC began commercial operations on 10 July 1969. At its origin, the company was predominantly privately financed, with a minority state interest. This ownership structure distinguished ARNOLAC from some state-linked transport organizations operating in the Lake Tanganyika region. By 1990, ARNOLAC was described as Burundi’s largest merchant shipping company. Its fleet then included five tugs, four self-propelled vessels and approximately ten barges, including two fuel tank barges, with combined capacity of about 5,000 tonnes. The company also operated Muhabura, a container vessel presented to the Burundian state by France. Much of the fleet was inherited from the colonial period and had been built between 1890 and 1965. One notable later vessel was Birikunzira, a 200-ton self-propelled boat built in 1979. Refits recorded for the fleet took place between 1973 and 1986. ARNOLAC was severely affected by Burundi’s political and economic disruptions. After the 1996 coup that returned Pierre Buyoya to power, neighboring countries imposed an economic embargo on Burundi. Trade largely stopped, and ARNOLAC vessels were stranded at Kigoma in Tanzania and Mpulungu in Zambia with cargoes that included fertilizer and grain intended for the World Food Programme. The company, which normally employed about 300 people, was reduced to only a few staff members at its central office during the crisis. Activity later recovered. In 2012 and 2013, ARNOLAC transported as much as 10,000 tonnes per month, moving commodities from Zambia and Tanzania to Burundi. Demand subsequently weakened after domestic cement production reduced imports and Zambia restricted maize exports. By early 2015, monthly cargo volumes had fallen to approximately 4,000 tonnes. The political crisis surrounding President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term further reduced regional trade; combined monthly volumes carried by ARNOLAC and BATRALAC were reported at roughly 2,000 tonnes. The company continues to form part of Burundi’s lake-shipping sector. As described for 2024, its fleet consisted of seven barges, four tugboats and two oil tankers, with total carrying capacity of approximately 5,000 tonnes and 535 cubic metres. ARNOLAC has also been discussed as a possible participant in more efficient fuel supply routes using rail from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and lake transport from Kigoma to Bujumbura. It is a member of MOESNA, formerly known as the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping, and has been connected with regional efforts to develop private-sector shipping cooperation and a regional cabotage framework.
History
ARNOLAC is a Burundian lake-shipping company whose roots lie in the fleet of the Belgian Compagnie des Grands Lacs. In 1965, the fleet was divided equally between the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Zaïrois and the organization that later became ARNOLAC. The company started business on 10 July 1969. Its initial ownership was predominantly private, with private investors holding 90 percent and the state holding 10 percent. The company established its base at the Port of Bujumbura and became one of the principal operators on Lake Tanganyika. By 1990, it was regarded as Burundi’s largest merchant shipping company. Its equipment included five tugboats, four self-propelled cargo vessels and approximately ten barges, two of them configured as fuel tankers. The combined capacity was about 5,000 tonnes. ARNOLAC also operated Muhabura, a container vessel donated to Burundi by France. Much of the fleet was old, with vessels constructed between 1890 and 1965, while Birikunzira, a 200-ton self-propelled boat, had been built in 1979. Recorded fleet refits occurred between 1973 and 1986. ARNOLAC’s performance has been closely tied to political stability and regional trade. Following the 1996 coup that restored Pierre Buyoya to power, neighboring states imposed an economic embargo on Burundi. Commercial activity collapsed, and ARNOLAC vessels were held at Kigoma and Mpulungu with cargoes including fertilizer and grain supplied for the World Food Programme. The company normally employed around 300 people, but during the embargo only three staff remained at its central office. The disruption illustrated the dependence of Lake Tanganyika shipping on cross-border trade and access to regional ports. Trade conditions improved in the early 2010s. ARNOLAC transported up to 10,000 tonnes per month in 2012 and 2013, carrying cement, reinforcing bars, sugar and maize from Zambia, as well as goods and cement from Kigoma in Tanzania. Volumes then declined. The expansion of domestic cement manufacturing in Burundi reduced demand for imported cement, while Zambia’s restrictions on maize exports removed another source of cargo. By early 2015, monthly volume had fallen to roughly 4,000 tonnes. The political crisis associated with Pierre Nkurunziza’s attempt to secure a third presidential term caused another contraction, with ARNOLAC and BATRALAC together carrying about 2,000 tonnes per month. In the 2020s, ARNOLAC remained part of Burundi’s lake-transport infrastructure. A 2021 commission reviewed the history of 18 vessels transferred from Belgium to Burundi and recommended an inquiry into their acquisition by ARNOLAC. In 2022, the company was discussed in connection with a possible fuel-supply route in which cargo would travel by rail from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and then by lake vessel to Bujumbura. ARNOLAC boats were described as capable of carrying up to 500 cubic metres of fuel between Kigoma and Bujumbura in approximately six to twelve hours, although importers continued to rely largely on trucks. ARNOLAC is a member of MOESNA, formerly the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping. In 2023, regional shipping representatives considered creating a private-sector regional shipping line and developing a cabotage framework to permit regional operators to address unused or insufficient national capacity. By 2024, ARNOLAC was described as operating seven barges, four tugboats and two oil tankers, with total capacity of about 5,000 tonnes and 535 cubic metres. Its role remains that of a specialized inland-waterway freight carrier serving the Lake Tanganyika corridor.
- 2024
Contemporary fleet documented
[1]ARNOLAC was described as operating seven barges, four tugboats and two oil tankers with total carrying capacity of approximately 5,000 tonnes and 535 cubic metres.
- 2023
Regional shipping cooperation considered
[1]Shipping representatives meeting under ISCOS discussed a private-sector regional shipping line and a regional cabotage framework.
- 2021
Vessel ownership inquiry recommended
[1]A joint commission examining 18 boats transferred from Belgium to Burundi recommended an inquiry into their acquisition by ARNOLAC.
- 2015
Political crisis reduces lake freight
[1]Following Burundi’s political crisis, combined monthly volumes carried by ARNOLAC and BATRALAC fell to approximately 2,000 tonnes.
- 2012
Cargo volumes reach a high point
[1]ARNOLAC transported as much as 10,000 tonnes per month during 2012 and 2013.
- 1996
Economic embargo disrupts operations
[1]A regional embargo following Burundi’s 1996 political crisis halted much of the company’s trade and left vessels and cargoes held at Kigoma and Mpulungu.
- 1990
Largest merchant shipping company in Burundi
[1]ARNOLAC was described as Burundi’s largest merchant shipping company, operating tugs, self-propelled vessels and barges with aggregate capacity of about 5,000 tonnes.
- 1969
ARNOLAC begins operations
[1]ARNOLAC commenced business on 10 July 1969 as a predominantly privately financed company with a minority state interest.
- 1965
Fleet division creates the basis for ARNOLAC
[1]The fleet previously managed by the Belgian Compagnie des Grands Lacs was divided equally between the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Zaïrois and the organization that would become ARNOLAC.
Products and positioning
A private, lake-based freight operator serving Burundi and the wider Lake Tanganyika logistics corridor.
Inland-waterway freight · 1969
Lake Tanganyika cargo transport
ARNOLAC’s core service is the movement of bulk and general cargo between Bujumbura and other Lake Tanganyika ports. Historical cargoes have included cement, reinforcing bars, sugar, maize, fertilizer, grain and miscellaneous goods.
Petroleum logistics
Fuel tanker transport
The company operates or has operated fuel tanker barges and oil tankers for lake transport. Its vessels have been discussed as a possible link in a rail-and-lake fuel route from Dar es Salaam through Kigoma to Bujumbura.
Containerized freight
Container and general cargo shipping
ARNOLAC has operated self-propelled vessels and the Muhabura container ship, supporting the movement of containerized and other non-bulk cargo on Lake Tanganyika.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2023
Participation in regional shipping cooperation discussionsStrategyBackground
Regional shipping operators discussed capacity gaps and the limitations of nationally organized shipping services.
Action taken
Representatives agreed to pursue a private-sector regional shipping line and a regional cabotage framework that would permit regional lines to provide capacity where national operators were insufficient.
Aftermath
The reference identifies the agreement and policy direction but does not document implementation or ARNOLAC’s specific subsequent role.
2022
Potential rail-and-lake fuel logistics routeStrategyBackground
A regional logistics discussion considered moving fuel by rail from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and then by ARNOLAC vessel to Bujumbura. The route had reportedly not been used by Burundi importers for more than a decade.
Action taken
ARNOLAC’s lake vessels were identified as capable of carrying up to 500 cubic metres of fuel from Kigoma to Bujumbura in approximately six to twelve hours.
Aftermath
The route was presented as potentially cheaper than trucking, but importers continued to rely on trucks after investing in road-transport capacity.
Recent events
- 2023
Regional shipping representatives support private-sector shipping line[1]
Other
At a meeting organized by ISCOS, representatives of national and regional shipping lines agreed to pursue a privately owned regional shipping line and a regional cabotage framework that could allow operators such as ARNOLAC to fill capacity gaps.
- 2022
Fuel logistics through Kigoma and Bujumbura discussed[1]
Other
A report examined whether fuel importers could use rail transport to Kigoma followed by ARNOLAC lake shipping to Bujumbura. The route was described as potentially faster and less expensive than trucking, although importers had already invested in road transport.
Sources1 sources
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