Night falls over Lake Tanganyika, and the lights at the International Airport in Burundi are brightly lit. Various types of road construction machinery are arranged in an orderly manner, and the machines roar. Workers from China and Burkina Faso are rushing to carry out the asphalt surface layer laying operation on the runway during the nighttime period. The reporter visited the airport upgrade project, which was built with Chinese assistance and undertaken by Shanghai Baoye. This project is also a benchmark project for friendly cooperation between China and Burkina Faso.

Hupan Airport works overnight

Burundi is located in the interior of East Africa. It is the only international airport in the country and the only air channel connecting the country to the outside world. Before the renovation, the airport facilities were old and the runway was damaged, which greatly restricted civil aviation transportation and could not keep up with the local economic development needs. Therefore, the renovation and expansion project is urgently needed.

This project covers the renovation of old runways, taxiways, and aprons, as well as the addition of supporting areas such as turning aprons and anti blowing aprons. A new control tower and air traffic control office building of approximately 1500 square meters will be built, equipped with a complete set of professional equipment for communication, meteorology, and air surveillance. The project will start construction in 2024, and the construction team has successively resolved many difficulties such as material shortages, unstable electricity, high incidence of malaria, and temporary flight disruptions; In response to the lack of practical skills among local workers, a mentorship teaching model has been adopted to improve construction efficiency. Over a hundred local residents have been employed, driving income growth in the surrounding areas.

Innovative non-stop construction mode

This project sets a precedent for large-scale non-stop construction of Chinese aid airports. The airport maintains normal navigation, and construction can only be carried out during flight breaks, placing extremely high demands on construction accuracy and overall management. The daytime construction of the tower and office building, as well as the operation of the runway and other flight areas, are all arranged to be carried out at night. The entire operation process is strictly standardized. At 5:30 pm, construction personnel and machinery gather for safety training, complete alcohol testing and security checks, and follow the guided vehicle to enter the site; Complete all work before 5 a.m., conduct a comprehensive cleaning and inspection, and evacuate the site before 5:30 a.m. after passing the airworthiness verification.

The project leader stated that there is only one civil aviation runway in the country, and the construction fault tolerance rate is extremely low. Every time the work is completed, all staff will conduct a thorough inspection of the site to prevent debris from leaving and threatening flight safety. In December 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of Burundi sent a special letter of thanks, recognizing the Chinese team's efficient planning, strict safety control, taking into account the construction progress and the normal operation of the airport, and demonstrating excellent professional strength. The southern end of the airport is only two kilometers away from Lake Tanganyika. During nighttime construction, hippos can often be seen foraging in the grass by the lake, creating a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Keywords: the Belt and Road News, Bujumbura Airport, China aided construction

Local people are full of expectations

Many local residents are eagerly anticipating the completion of the airport renovation. Harris, a 28 year old young man, studied Chinese at a local Confucius Institute and joined the project in 2024, responsible for translation and comprehensive management. He stated that this job offers stable income, accumulated management experience, and significantly improved family life. He hopes that after the completion of the new airport, Burundi will improve its external image, attract more flights and tourists, and create a lot of development opportunities for the country. The night by Lake Tanganyika is gradually darkening, and the airport construction site is still brightly lit. Chinese and Bhutanese builders are working together to create an external air passage that helps local development.Editor/Gong Ziwei