WATERWAYS PPP FEASIBILITY STUDY	MALI

> SECTOR(S) : Marine

> SERVICE(S) : Legal and Regulatory Services, PPP Advisory

The 4180 km Niger River plays an important role in local transport of goods and travellers coming from or heading to the northern region of Mali.  For several decades, COMANAV has been the key operator for passenger and freight transport on the navigable regions of the Niger River.

Because of the strategic nature of river transport for the development of remote areas in the North of Mali and to make COMANAV more profitable, the Government of Mali decided to launch a study to review the feasibility and the conditions of a public-private partnership (PPP) in the operation of river transport in Mali and in the management of COMANAV. CPCS performed the following services: 

• We evaluated the activities of the COMANAV, as well as examined the feasibility of separating operations and accounts for distinct activities within distinct entities. This task comprised also the valuation of assets, the evaluation of the market, the definition of an investment programs for the extension and the improvement of the transport services.
• We evaluated all risks, including identifying private partner strategies and mitigation measures.
• We presented the conditions to attract a private operator and determine the means to implement the solutions to satisfy these conditions.  We also determined the respective contributions, the rights and the obligations of the partners.
• We made recommendations to address the issue of the legal property of COMANAV assets.
• We reviewed the institutional framework for public-partnership in river transport operations and recommend measures necessary to promote such partnership, as well as present the instruments necessary for the implementation of the reforms.