It has been proved that amongst factors that can reduce costs of production and increase on the profitability margin in the hotel industry in Rwanda is the use of gas for cooking. The survey was based on the advantages that come along with the use of liquefied petroleum Gas which Kigali Serena Hotel started using months ago. After Kigali Serena Hotel won a certificate of hygiene, it embarked on reducing costs of production particularly in the kitchen to increase on profitability. The hotel progressed to using Liquefied petroleum gas in most of its works in the kitchen which will help in reducing the amount of electricity consumption in preparing food. According to the Executive Chef Kigali Serena Hotel, Fred Nakweya, the use of Liquefied petroleum gas in the kitchen was a clear and suitable way forward, which reduced on the rate at which electricity is, consumed thus reducing on its payments. “Yes there is a lot of work in the Kitchen which consumes a lot of electricity. Therefore, when we introduced the use of Liquefied petroleum gas along side electricity, the rate at which we consume electricity is not as we used to. This is definite that we have reduced costs of production to increase on our profits,” Nakweya said. He added that the use of gas is more controllable mostly when using a four burner stove, deep freezer and the salamander. “The system is controllable depending on the need for use which makes it more convenient and appropriate in the kitchen works as orders came at a time,” he said. He explained that on addition to reducing costs of production, it contributes to quality work in the kitchen based on the classification of work needed. The head of the technical department at Laico Umubano former Novotel Hotel, Maurice Nsanzineza also commended the system. He said that based on the cost of electricity to the cost of gas, it is cheaper to use it (gas). “I am aware that it is cheaper to use Liquefied petroleum gas or any other gas in the kitchen than using electricity,” Nsanzineza admitted. He said that the issue has been given priority and it’s being debated upon. “We have discussed about the use of gas, but the problem we have is that given the location of our kitchen, we are not able to implement it at the moment,” he said. He said that the location of the kitchen does not allow the use of gas. The Kitchen is underground which is not acceptable at all in the use of gas. “It’s only when we change the plan of the kitchen to another angle or location to suit gas use, which I believe might be possible when the building undergoes renovation,” he said. He said that although he is not aware when the renovation process will begin, it will create the opportunity to use gas alongside electricity. Erson Osire who is in charge of electrical works at Stipphotels in Kiyovu said that gas use in hotels, is not only important in reducing the cost of production, but also a modern and advanced step in the hotel industry. “Although gas use in our kitchen reduces on costs of production, it is also a standard which has been attained to uplift the works of hotels in Rwanda,” he noted. “If we only mind about reducing costs of production, we could be using even charcoal stoves for example in our bakery department.” He explained that hotels mainly those in the city, receive many people from different parts of the world. It is therefore important to work hard to advance on the hotel industry, noting that both maintaining and improving on services in the industry was necessary. “Electricity serves to the best it can, but there is time when we do not have it. This forces us to resort to the use of generators which is expensive in the long run,” he said. Adding that since the gas system is controlled at the hotels, it avoids interruptions of on-off tendencies which may affect good performance in the kitchen department. However, he was quick to comment on the cost of gas in Rwanda comparing it to other countries in the region. “Although gas is not as expensive as electricity it the country, it is not cheap compared to its cost in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi,” he noted.According to other hotels where the survey was conducted, comments were not any different to the above contributors. Like Nsanzineza of Laico Umubano Hotel, Osire of Stipphotels in Kiyovu also commended gas use as being cost-effective in the hotel industry. mugoyag@yahoo.com
