Democratic Republic of Congo - Priority Air Safety Project Phase II (PPSA II)

The Priority Air Safety Project (PPSA) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is consistent with the Integrated National Transport Master Plan (PDNIT) financed by the Bank in 2016, which identifies the aviation sector as crucial to implementation of the national passenger transport policy and the country’s economic influence. The project’s phase I (PPSA I), launched in November 2010, yielded satisfactory results in terms of an infrastructure upgrade in the three main airports of Ndjili, Lubumbashi and Kisangani; provision of navigation aids for the DRC airspace ; and human capacity building. The proposed Phase II (PPSA II), which builds on PPSA I, was designed based on detailed studies on the three project sites as well as a safety assessment conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority at the Mbuji-Mayi site. These initiatives spotlighted the operational constraints caused by obsolete infrastructure that has adverse effects on air safety, passenger and freight traffic trends and the quality of services provided to customers. PPSA II, thus, improves and strengthens not only the infrastructure but also the DRC's level of compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety and air navigation requirements. The planned activities are : (i) rehabilitation of airport infrastructure in Kindu, Kisangani and Mbuji-Mayi; (ii) procurement of air navigation equipment ; (iii) capacity building for the technical staff of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Airways Authority (RVA) ; and (iv) strategic studies on air transport in the DRC. The project will be implemented from February 2019 to December 2022 for a total estimated cost of USD 120.56 million, net of taxes and customs duties (NTCD).