Senators have summoned the Prime Minister to explain new strategies to be used to reduce wood fuel use, after the government failed to meet its 2024 targets. ALSO READ: Rwanda needs $1.37bn to reduce charcoal use by half A senate report presented on Monday, August 4, showed that the 2024 goals to cut wood fuel reliance from 83.3 percent to 42 percent were missed, as usage instead increased to 93 percent. “A large share of households still depends on firewood, leading to excessive tree cutting often before trees mature,” explained Fulgence Nsengiyumva, Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Economic Development and Finance. The revised goal is now to reach 42 percent by 2030. ALSO READ: A breakdown of Rwanda's new policy on sustainable energy generation “The senate’ plenary resolved to summon the Prime Minister to respond on strategies to help citizens access clean cooking energy and meet the target. Progress should be reviewed annually as this involves multiple ministries such as environment, agriculture, infrastructure, local government, education, among others,” he said. The monitoring, conducted between June 3 and 24, 2025, involved consultations with relevant institutions, clean cooking technology companies, 12 districts and their partners, citizens in urban and rural areas, private sector actors in pellet and briquette production, stove manufacturers, vendors, NGOs among others. Limited awareness The report noted low public awareness of clean cooking solutions. “Some citizens don’t know about clean cooking technologies or the government subsidies. Others resell subsidised items. Some think gas is dangerous or causes cancer. Many still use both gas and traditional fuels,” the report stated. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s new $300 million clean energy project unveiled The report’s recommendations include producing educational materials and using all communication channels including community gatherings, family evenings, post-Umuganda meetings, and announcements in churches and mosques. It also calls for engaging youth, women, students, saving groups, and cooperatives in awareness efforts. “We must promote gradual savings schemes and partner with microfinance institutions to support purchases of modern cooking equipment,” said Nsengiyumva. Urban demand, schools, and industries Nsengiyumva reported that Kigali alone consumes 60,000 sacks of charcoal weekly. “That means 200 hectares of forest are cut each week which is about 9,600 hectares yearly. This impedes the shift from wood fuel,” he added. Senator Pelagie Uwera revealed that 45.2 percent of wood fuel is consumed by schools, calling for measures to adopt alternatives. “If no action is taken, the problem could worsen in 10 or 20 years,” said Senator Sosthène Cyitatire. Senator Adrie Umuhire called for engaging tea factories to understand their challenges and why alternatives are not being used. ALSO READ: Government to ban charcoal use in Kigali Rural areas left behind The report noted that most clean cooking products are sold in urban and district centres, leaving rural areas underserved. Pellet and briquette use, which are considered key alternatives, are not broadly used in the country. Cooking gas prices vary across districts, and suppliers only accept returns of their own cylinders. “The cost is too high for many citizens, limiting access to gas,” the report stated, as it urged faster rollout of flexible gas purchasing schemes that let people buy small quantities based on their means. Biogas systems failing In many visited districts, biogas systems were not functioning, even though they were introduced as clean energy alternatives. The 2022/2023 Auditor General’s report showed that 77 percent of the 10,913 systems built nationally are non-operational. Local government bodies were blamed for not giving priority to clean cooking challenges or related health impacts like respiratory issues, eye infections, and hygiene concerns. The report called for integrating clean cooking efforts into district annual plans and budgets. Coordination gaps The report also cited coordination as another major issue. The national energy policy proposed a delivery unit to lead clean cooking interventions across sectors, but it hasn’t been created. The Ministry of Infrastructure’s 2019-2030 action plan outlines institutional roles, yet “there is no evidence of effective implementation,” the report stated. Senators urged stronger partnerships with universities, TVET and IPRC institutions, and research centres to develop, repair, and promote clean cooking technologies. Pellets and briquettes remain underutilised, while some cook-stoves are still imported, increasing costs and limiting reach. “There’s a lack of collaboration between key players and academic institutions,” the report said. Projects and subsidies The government offers subsidies covering 60–80% of the cost of clean cooking equipment. ALSO READ: Use of electric, LPG, ethanol stoves projected to increase 25% Through BRD’s Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (EAQIP), 470,000 out of a planned 500,000 households have received support. However, Senator Marie Rose Mureshyankwano noted only stoves are subsidized but not the gas itself. “Gas should be subsidised too, like seeds are for farmers,” she said. A government-private sector research project, expected in 2027, is studying how to extract cooking gas from Lake Kivu’s methane. Emergency gas storage facilities with a 17,100-cubic metre capacity are being built and should be ready by end-2025. “Some companies offer flexible payment plans to help citizens buy gas based on their means,” senators noted. Agricultural by-products such as rice husks, maize cobs, and coffee husks are being turned into eco-fuels like pellets and briquettes, costing between Rwf300 and Rwf500 per kilogramme. Energy-efficient electric devices, like pressure cookers and induction stoves, are also being introduced alongside bioethanol, senators observed. However, Senator Cyprien Niyomugabo called for a cost-benefit assessment of clean cooking alternatives since some are not affordable. “Many people cut trees because alternatives are too expensive,” he warned.
