The 4th Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV4) 2014 indicated that 80% of Rwandans use fuel-wood for cooking which, according to some individuals who talked to IGIHE, is becoming more expensive.
Individuals who talked to IGIHE want the government to address the matter of costly bio-gradable fuels which forces some households to have one meal a day while others prefer to dine in restaurants.
“I use three sacks of charcoal per month at a price of Rwf 9,500 each. Thisis too costly. The government should intervene to address fuel complexities, “said Mukakalisa Devotha, resident of Nyarugenge district.
Rutatina Alexis, a resident of Bugesera says; “Charcoal is expensive here in Nyamata We have decided to cook in bulk at noon and just boil the food for supper. Sometimes we eat from restaurants.”
Liban Mugabo, the Managing Director of Safe Gas Rwanda importing and selling gas, said that charcoal is not a matter, but that people should change their perceptions and use gas which he says is cheap. He said that 12kgs of gas cost Rwf 17,000 which can last three months compared to Rwf 20,000 spent on charcoal per month.
He further says that Safe Gas can offer gas on credit to those that approach them as a cooperative.
Adrie Mukashema, the Deputy Director General of Forests and Nature Conservation at the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority told IGIHE that charcoal price increase results from forestation mismatching with population growth.
In 2015, statistics from Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) indicated that over 83% of Rwandans in rural areas use firewood and charcoal to cook while more than 90% of urban dwellers use charcoal. Rwanda targets to reduce these numbers to 50% in EDPRS II.
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