A selected number of investors in Rwanda will have to seek permission in order to use polythene bags, a top government official has said.

Vincent Karega, the State Minister for Mining and Environment, said that investors have some provisions for using plastic bags though strict measures against manufacturing, use and importing are underway.

"They (investors) only have to apply to Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) explaining the rationale of their business,” he explained yesterday in a phone interview.

"REMA will inspect and approve if they deserve to use the bags. If they grant permission, the environmental body will still monitor their usage and disposal.”

Similarly, Rwanda Development Board through its investment and promotional agency is encouraging exporters to write officially to REMA in order to get full authorisation for the usage of plastic packages for export purposes.

So far, SHEKINA, a horticulture company received an acceptance letter to use plastic materials for export purposes.

On The Frontier Group (OTF), an American competitiveness consultancy firm had also requested government to lift the ban on tea industry for export purposes.

A draft law that is yet to be passed stipulates penalties for persons who do not abide.

The fines include a fee ranging from Rwf100,000 to Rwf500,000 or a prison sentence of 6-12 months for manufacturers of polythene bags.

It also includes another fee ranging from Rwf 10,000 to Rwf300,000 to any person found selling polythene bags, while any person found using them will be fined between Rwf10,000 to Rwf100,000.

Karega however said that government through RDB is looking for investors to process and recycle all plastic materials used in the country.

"Plastics may be processed into energy or recycled into other environmental friendly products for use,” he explained.

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