KIGALI - The Minister of State in charge of Water and Energy, Colletha Ruhamya, has urged charcoal burners, transporters and traders to form cooperatives, saying that this will enable them streamline their business.

The minister made the call, on Wednesday, while opening a one-day workshop on improved harmonization techniques and charcoal supply.

"There is a serious need to improve the methods of charcoal burning and its supply to the final consumers,” Ruhamya said, adding that if the trade is not coordinated, the environment will be damaged.

The Minister said that the adoption and application of improved carbonization techniques will reduce the number of trees that are cut for charcoal burning and increase production hence making it affordable to consumers.

Speaking to The New Times shortly after opening the workshop, Ruhamaya said that currently, there is a problem of high charcoal prices which she attributed to vices like corruption among charcoal burners, transporters and traders. She promised high level intervention, to address the issue.

"The main objective of this seminar was to look at the value chain of charcoal from its burning process and transportation to the final users and to also look at the challenges that have been identified,” the Minister stressed.

The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure in collaboration with Care Rwanda.

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