BUGESERA - The Ministry of Infrastructure, in partnership with World Vision Rwanda and Bugesera District, yesterday, launched biogas projects at three secondary schools in the area.

The plants, put up at Nyamata High School, Groupe Scolaire APEBU and Groupe Scolaire Rilima, cost a total of Rwf 98 million.

Launching the projects, the Minister of State in charge of Water and Energy, Coletta Ruhamya, hailed the schools for their contribution towards environmental protection.

"By using biogas, it is now possible to avoid encroaching on the forests for firewood,” she said.

The schools have also constructed cleaner kitchens that use biogas for cooking, thus reducing use of firewood by 75 percent. Nyamata High School also uses toilet waste as manure.

World Vision Country Director, , George Gitau, noted that his organisation is dedicated to protecting the environment.

"We are honoured to work with the government of Rwanda in protecting the precious trees,” he said.

"We are ready to work with other schools which wish to obtain biogas in future”.

The Minister also launched an underground water tank, constructed at Juru Primary School by a nongovernmental organisation, Water Aid. The tank has the capacity to store 90,000 litres of rainwater.

"Our children no longer use swamp water for drinking or bathing, because we now have clean water from this tank,” Triphine Tamani, a teacher at the school commented.

Nshuti Rugerinyangye, of Water Aid Rwanda, said that the NGO is rehabilitating water schemes to solve the water crisis in the area.

Students and residents in the sectors of Rilima and Juru in the district pledged to properly maintain the biogas and rainwater systems.

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