BURUNDI’S WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NILE BASIN. PROF. PASCAL NKURUNZIZA, BURUNDI UNIVERSITY, OLD NILE

CONTENT CONTEXT OF THE STUDY OBJECTIVS OF THE STUDY GEOGRAPHIE POSITION WATER RESOURCE SITUATION IN BURUNDI BURUNDI’S WATER RESOURCE IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NILE BASIN WATER SUPPLY AND WATER DEMAND IN BURUNDI CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPACT ON WATER RESOURCE IN BURUNDI AND IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NILE SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON BURUNDI’S WATER MANAGEMENT ( IWRM)

CONTEXT OF THE STUDY RESEARCH PROGRAM FRAMEWORK OF THE NILE BASIN RESEARCH PROGRAM COORDONATOR OF THE PROGRAM: DR RUNNER NIELSEN RESEARCH COORDONATOR : PROF. TERJE TVEDT.

OBJECTIVS OF THE STUDY Threats on the Nil River Hydrology situation Utilization Impact of climate change Burundi and the Nil (KBO)

THREATS ON NIL RIVER Only the Anglo-Belgian treaty (1934) retained the attention of independent Burundi. This treaty aimed to regulate the sharing of the Kagera river between the (British) Tanganyika Territory and (Belgian) Rwanda-Urundi. This treaty stipulated that: ” The Water diverted from a part of the watercourse situated wholly within either territory shall be returned without substantial reduction to its natural bed at some point before such water course flows into the other territory or at some point before such watercourse forms the common boundary.”

WATER RESOURCE IN BURUNDI Annual rainfall : 1011 m3/s; Surface water: 82 m3/s Exported water : 661 m3/s Evapo-transpiration : 692 m3/s Groundwater : 237 m3/s Shared water : 335 m3/s

WATER RESOURCE IN BURUNDI Lake Tanganyika : constitutes the biggest reserve of fresh water worldwide (18,900 km3). Lake Cohoha (59 sq km): 5 bcm Lake Rweru (91 sq km) : 3.7 bcm.

CONGO BASIN ( Malagarazi S/B) CONGO BASIN (Rusizi & Tanganyika S/B) WATER SUPPLY PER BASIN Kagera 3,155 Km2 912 bcm Ruvubu 10,063 Km2 3,420 bcm TOTAL NIL BASIN 13,218 Km2 4,532 bcm NIL BASIN (Kagera S/B) NIL BASIN (Ruvubu S/B) Malagarazi 5262 Km2 1.607 bcm Rusizi 2.684 Km2 1.672 bcm Tanganyika 3.871 Km2 2.450 bcm TOTAL CONGO BASIN 11.817 Km2 5.729 bcm CONGO BASIN ( Malagarazi S/B) Nil Basin represents 53 % (13,218 km2) of the Land surface whereas it supplies 45 % (4,532 bcm) of the total renewable water in Burundi. CONGO BASIN (Rusizi & Tanganyika S/B) TOTAL RENEWABLE WATER PER YEAR: 10.061 bcm

PROJECTION OF DRINKWATER DEMAND AND WATER SUPPLY With a population growth of 3%, the amount of drinking water needed in urban areas doubles every ten years. From 22 mcm in 1990, consumption reached 40 mcm in 2000 and is expected to reach 70 mcm in 2010. In rural areas, the growth rate of demand for drinking water is 58% every ten years. Demand increased from 170 mcm in 1990 to 293 mcm in the year 2000 and may reach 434 mcm in 2010.

PROJECTION OF DRINKWATER DEMAND AND WATER SUPPLY With a population growth of 3%, the amount of drinking water needed in urban areas doubles every ten years. From 22 mcm in 1990, consumption reached 40 mcm in 2000 and is expected to reach 70 mcm in 2010. In rural areas, the growth rate of demand for drinking water is 58% every ten years. Demand increased from 170 mcm in 1990 to 293 mcm in the year 2000 and may reach 434 mcm in 2010

EVOLUTION OF UNDRINKABLE WATER DEMAND PER SECTOR The total water demand per all sectors in 2010 is almost 150000 l/s. This represents almost 15 % of the total renewable water amount per year. It is also to remark that the Water sector for the Hydropower don’t increase. It means that the Industry sector remain very weak.

EXPLOITATION OF MARSHES AREAS Marshlands cover 120,000 ha, or 4.3% of the total surface of Burundi (lakes excluded). Marshes play an important role during the long dry season (July-September), as sponges that store water and retain fine mineral material eroded from surrounding hills. What is the status of the marshes today? Rapid population growth (3%) has increased pressure on cultivable land, especially on marshland. Since 1990, marsh cultivation has increased from about 50% to almost 100%. Marshes are very sensitive ecosystems. Water is almost at the same level with the surface and uncontrolled cultivation can generate incommensurable ecological imbalances. The outcome may be the total drying out of the marsh and the loss of cultivable land.

WATER AND HYDROENERGY In 1994 the hydroelectric potential of Burundi was estimated at 1,371 MW. But in terms of technical feasibility, only 300 MW could be achievable. In 1997 the installed capacity of electrical power was 43 MW, 32 of which came from hydroelectric dams, the rest from thermal power. Hydroelectric production represents only 0.6% of the country’s power.

OTHER ENERGY SOURCES Firewood and charcoal account for 95%. Consumption of charcoal is about 2.9 kg per inhabitant per day. Exploitation of peat reserves, estimated at 100 million tons (with 57 million exploitable) might slow deforestation. At present only one company exploits peat, producing no more than 12,000 tons a year or a miniscule 0.04% of the energy consumed in Burundi. By comparison, imported oil products represent 2.5% of the total energy consumed.

BURUNDI AND THE NILE (KBO PROJECTS) Burundi covers 6% of the total surface area of the Nile basin countries and represent 22% within the Kagera basin area. 75% of the Burundian marshlands are located in the Kagera basin. These represent an important reserve of water and help feed local populations through agriculture. The Ruvubu river contributes 2.6 mcm of water to the flow of the While Nile. Since we know that the White Nile represents 14% of the total water of the Nile (84 bcm), we have an idea of the importance of the Ruvubu. In fact, 22% of the average annual flow of the White Nile comes from Burundi.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON BURUNDI’S WATER MANAGEMENT

CONCLUSION Burundi is not running short of water, what Burundi lacks are the technology and expertise to meet the needs of its population for drinkable water, irrigation, and hydroelectric production. Burundi need to cooperate with all Nil basin countries in particular in Energy production and in protection of the Environment. To manage its water, Burundi have to apply the IWRM in its all components (Legal, institutional and technical organisation). The research must be a priority to go forward in this water resource management.

THANK YOU For your attention