As part of more significant initiatives to stop deforestation and promote the adoption of clean energy, a pilot program has been launched to encourage the use of cooking gas in Rwandan schools. The effort is now being tried in 20 schools in the country’s southern district and is led by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

Using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for bulk cooking in the chosen schools is part of the pilot project, which will cost Rwf323.9 million to implement. An official from REMA said, “The introduction of cooking gas in schools is essential, as these institutions have traditionally relied on charcoal or firewood for their cooking activities. A single school can consume between 150 and 200 cubic meters of firewood per term, highlighting the significant rate of deforestation”.

The Ministry of Education’s 2020/21 Education Statistical Yearbook lists 9,645 schools, including nursery, primary, and secondary schools, with over 3.8 million students enrolled. 3.48 million of these children attend public and government-funded schools.

From the districts of Kamonyi, Nyanza, Ruhango, and Gisagara, REMA chose five schools. This action intends to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of those districts’ extensive biomass energy consumption, resulting in deforestation and the deterioration of forests and agricultural land.

263,000 hectares of degraded wood are anticipated to be saved if the pilot project succeeds. REMA is concentrated on showing partners and schools the advantages of switching from cooking with wood to cooking with gas, including cost-effectiveness, time savings, and enhanced human health.

REMA intends to work with the Ministry of Education to expand the program cross the nation after the trial phase is finished.

Representatives from the school stated that they are in favor of using cooking gas. Father Andre Mbarushimana, the dean of studies at Saint Bernadette Secondary School in the Kamonyi area, emphasized the advantages of cooking with cooking gas in terms of the environment and hygiene as well as the quicker cooking time when compared to cooking with firewood. The head of Collège Christ-Roi de Nyanza, Jacques Hakizimana, noted that while firewood is still used for cooking rice and porridge, cooking gas is less expensive.

Jeanne D’arch Mujamariya, the environment minister emphasized the government’s intention to lower the use of wood fuel from its current 80 percent to 42 percent. Valentine Uwamariya, the minister of education, acknowledged the issue of insufficient resources faced by schools but also the necessity to address the issue of tree cutting for firewood due to the high student population.

The Ministry of the Environment further noted that the anticipated domestic production of cooking gas will boost its affordability. A multimillion-dollar plant being built by Rwanda in 2022 will use methane gas from Lake Kivu to manufacture compressed natural gas for cooking. The facility will be able to produce 990,000 cubic meters of gas per day, of which 35 to 40 percent will be used for cooking. The demand for LPG in Rwanda is expected to more than double by 2024 from its current level of 10,000 tonnes, according to predictions from the Ministry of Infrastructure.