By Ben Gasore

CIMERWA, Rwanda’s largest cement manufacturing company has signed Rwf 9bn deal that will see it receive peat supplies for the next five years. Maria Legodi Busisiwe, chief executive officer of CIMERWA said the deal, signed yesterday with Peat En-ergy Company (PEC); a subsidiary of Rwanda Investment Group (RIG) will see them reduce greatly on the energy expenses it incurs as they have been relying on heavy fuel which is expensive.

"Peat is used to some extent to complement the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) whose prices keep fluctuating and the former has proved to be a much cheaper al-ternative solution,” said Pierre Kalin-ganire, chief executive officer of PEC.HFO and Peat are used to burn clinker, the second last material to produce cement.

CIMERWA has been collecting peat on a daily basis from the Gishoma site in Rusizi District in the Western Province.