0
0
By Annonciata Byukusenge
Cooking for students in schools has long been cited as an immense contributor to deforestation in Rwanda due to the high demand for firewood. This is particularly concerning as the Government of Rwanda continues to fight climate change and restore forest cover to protect biodiversity and enhance ecological resilience.
To address this issue, the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), launched the Green Amayaga Project. One of its key interventions is the introduction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an alternative cooking energy source in schools across the Amayaga region, specifically in the districts of Kamonyi, Nyanza, Ruhango, and Gisagara the areas previously facing severe environmental degradation.
Under this project, 20 schools have already given gas infrastructure, including tanks with a capacity of 1,200 tons, to reduce the use of firewood. These schools were identified as high consumers of firewood, contributing highly to deforestation.
Saint Bernadette School in Kamonyi District, which has more than 1,600 students, is one of the beneficiaries. The school reports that using gas has had numerous benefits, including improved kitchen hygiene, better health for kitchen staff, reduced operational costs, and a cleaner environment.
Father André Mbarushimana, the school’s Deputy Head in charge of academics, stated:
“This is our second year using gas, and it has been incredibly beneficial. It improves kitchen cleanliness, reduces our dependency on firewood, and enables students to receive meals on time. It also contributes to environmental conservation by eliminating the smoke that used to pollute the air.”
He further noted that during rainy seasons, cooking with firewood was very challenging. Previously, the school spent over RWF 4 million on firewood. Currently, they use gas costing approximately RWF 1.2 million, with minimal supplementary firewood, bringing total energy costs to about RWF 2.4 million, a huge reduction.
Claude Mugiraneza, a cook at the school, shared that the smoke from firewood used to irritate their eyes and posed long-term respiratory health risks due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) present in wood smoke.
“Now that we use gas, there is far less smoke, which makes a huge difference to our health and working conditions,” he said.
The school affirms that the Green Amayaga Project has provided a sustainable solution to the challenges they faced both environmentally and operationally.
Cyprien Ngendahimana, Communications Officer at REMA, confirmed that the project has largely contributed to environmental protection and improved the livelihoods of communities within the Amayaga region.
“We are now seeing the Amayaga region becoming green again. Forest cover has increased, and fruit trees and agroforestry crops are being planted, which has improved soil fertility and reduced malnutrition. The project has also distributed livestock and energy-saving stoves, contributing to both development and conservation,” he said.
The 20 gas systems installed in schools cost over RWF 304 million, covering gas supplies, storage tanks, and installation. The project also distributed 21,000 improved “rondereza” cookstoves that reduce fuel consumption by up to 55%.
At Saint Bernadette School, 90 firewood stacks were used per term for RWF 1,350,000. Annually, that totaled to RWF 4,050,000. The gas intervention has cut this cost nearly in half.
According to the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), in the 2021/2022 academic year, Rwanda had 4,842 schools, with projections to reach 4,923 by 2024 under the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP). The majority of these schools still rely heavily on firewood.
Beatha Akimpaye, Director of Environmental Compliance at REMA, stated that most pilot projects start small but are often scaled up to provide long-term solutions once proven effective.
“The school feeding program has already helped address issues like dropout rates caused by hunger. Now we’re focusing on energy sources used in school kitchens. The gas project is part of our effort to find sustainable alternatives to firewood to help protect forests and biodiversity,” she explained.
The Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) has announced that the government is progressing toward its target of restoring two million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Smoke from biomass fuels like firewood contributes to both air pollution and public health problems.
Burning wood releases harmful gases such as:
Carbon monoxide (CO) which deprives the body of oxygen and can be fatal. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), a major contributor to global warming
Methane (CH₄) with a global warming potential many times higher than CO₂. Particulate matter (PM2.5) penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which contribute to acid rain and environmental degradation
These gases disproportionately affect women and children in rural areas and have long-term impacts on child development.
By promoting sustainable cooking alternatives in schools, correctional facilities, and other institutions, Rwanda is taking meaningful steps toward mitigating climate change, protecting public health, and preserving its natural ecosystems.
The Green Amayaga Project is also connected to larger national climate initiatives, including the NAP Project and LDCF3, which support resilience-building in the face of climate change.
