The Rwanda Emission Inspection Programme (REIP) was introduced in August to curb pollution from non-electric vehicles. ALSO READ: Rwanda to start testing motorcycle emissions, enhance compliance Vehicles undergo an initial emissions inspection. Those that meet standards are cleared, while others must be repaired and reinspected within two weeks at half the cost of the initial test. Delays incur full fees again. Pierre-Célestin Hakizimana, an officer in charge of air quality inspection at the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), said vehicle emission testing regulations are aligned with Euro 4 standards. These are European Union rules designed to limit pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), and particulate matter (PM). ALSO READ: Police move to curb vehicle gas emissions This means imported vehicles must meet at least Euro 4 (effective since 2005). Older, more polluting vehicles below this standard are restricted from import. Rwanda is among the first African countries to ban the import of used vehicles that do not meet Euro 4. The Euro standards have advanced from Euro 1 in 1992 to Euro 6 today, with each step setting stricter limits. For example, a Euro 6 diesel car emits about 96% less nitrogen oxides than a Euro 1 diesel car. “The higher the Euro number, the cleaner the car,” Hakizimana noted. Older vehicles already in the country are tested against the Euro standard of their manufacturing year. For instance, a 1992 vehicle (Euro 1) is tested under Euro 1 requirements. This ensures old vehicles are not judged by standards they were never designed to meet. “We have vehicles of different ages, which means the technology to monitor their emissions also differs. We don’t require a 1990 car to comply with 2020 technology. Each category has its own limits,” Hakizimana explained. Testing equipment is calibrated accordingly. A Euro 2 vehicle, for example, is tested against Euro 2 limits, not Euro 4 or higher. Figures show that vehicles under 10 years old generally comply with emission standards compared to older models. However, Hakizimana stressed that maintenance plays a crucial role. A well-maintained vehicle from the 1990s may pollute less than a poorly maintained 2020 model. ALSO READ: Rwandans urged to double efforts in combating rising air pollution “Some vehicle owners delay servicing until their car is in very poor condition—some exceed 50,000 km without maintenance. Others neglect servicing completely,” he said. Vehicles that pass emissions tests receive certificates, while others are instructed to adjust. “We have four testing centres: one in Huye for the south and west, one in Kigali for the city and suburbs, one in Rwamagana for the east, and one in Musanze for the north. Vehicles must hold both mechanical and emissions certificates,” he added. Euro 4 standards are also applied to fuel, requiring clean, low-sulphur fuel. Contaminated fuel can damage engines, block filters, and worsen pollution. Over 8,000 vehicles tested Innocent Mbonigaba, national coordinator of the vehicle emissions testing programme, said: “Since REMA’s emissions programme began, we have tested over 1,000 vehicles registered and paid for online. Preliminary tests on more than 7,000 vehicles were conducted to raise awareness. Testing centres now inspect 150–200 vehicles daily.” ALSO READ: Air quality: Govt introduces changes in vehicle emissions testing For petrol cars, the Euro 4 standard sets strict rules on what comes out of the exhaust. A car is only allowed to release up to 1.0 gram of carbon monoxide (CO) per kilometre. Hydrocarbons, which are harmful gases that come from unburned fuel, must stay below 0.10 grams per kilometre. Nitrogen oxides (NOx), which cause smog and breathing problems, are limited to just 0.08 grams per kilometre. In addition, petrol cars with direct injection engines must also keep particulate matter—tiny particles that pollute the air—under 0.025 grams per kilometre. For diesel cars, the limits are even tighter. They can release no more than 0.50 grams of carbon monoxide (CO) per kilometre. The combined amount of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides must not exceed 0.30 grams per kilometre, while nitrogen oxides alone are capped at 0.25 grams per kilometre. Diesel vehicles also have to keep particulate matter under 0.025 grams per kilometre, which is important because diesel exhaust produces more fine particles. For heavy-duty vehicles such as buses and trucks, the rules are measured differently, in grams per kilowatt-hour (g/kWh), since these vehicles are larger and use more power. Under Euro 4, they can release up to 1.5 g/kWh of carbon monoxide, 3.5 g/kWh of nitrogen oxides, 0.46 g/kWh of hydrocarbons, and only 0.02 g/kWh of particulate matter. The number of vehicles on Rwanda’s roads is expected to double by 2030, and so pollution, climate impacts as well as societal costs linked to congestion and health will also rise if the country does not act now. Rwanda aims to reduce 38% of emissions by 2030.
