Rwanda Standard Board (RSB) has launched a new laboratory, which it said will be instrumental in testing the quality of electrical and electronic products to ensure energy efficiency in the country.

The products targeted include electrical cables, solar panels, batteries for electric vehicles, electric motorcycles.

The first of its kind in Rwanda the laboratory is expected to boost the standard of all related materials and curb accidents or risks stemming from substandard materials.

The Rwf700 million laboratory was launched on October 14 as Rwanda and the rest of the world celebrated World Standard Day under the theme; "Ensuring Access to Safe, Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy with Standards”.

Raymond Murenzi, the Director-General of RSB, said that this new laboratory will help in testing all energy products both made in Rwanda and imported ones.

"It will provide verifiable evidence that products on the markets are safe, reliable, fit for the purpose while safeguarding the health and safety of the consumers and the environment,” he said

He said the laboratory will boost competitiveness on national, regional and global markets.

He said it will also facilitate global trade and provide sustainable solutions to technical challenges caused by some substandard products.

According to Murenzi, this will help reduce the environmental impact related to energy production and facilitate the sustainable use of limited resources and improve energy efficiency.

Officials said the move is a big boost to the energy sector development, and it importantly supports the government efforts to promote clean, modern, affordable energies  and electricity rollout throughout the country.,

Manufacturers of electrical cables, solar panels, batteries for electrical vehicles, and electric motorcycles welcomed the laboratory saying that it is going to help them produce products’ standards.

Alpha cables operation manager, Reuben Bagume said that this laboratory is the solution to their firm which produces electrical wires.

"As you know all products we manufacture requires a green light from RSB and this will help us to provide good services to our clients since we have a testing laboratory in Rwanda,” he said

He added that the wires used to be tested outside the country.

Christian Nyirigira, Supply Chain Manager in Mobisol, said "I hope this laboratory will help us in testing the standard of our products before delivering them to our clients and prove that we provide the standard products”