The Government of Rwanda and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, on June 18, signed a grant agreement totalling €12 million (approximately Rwf16.7 billion) to combat deforestation in Western and Eastern provinces. ALSO READ: Deforestation in Eastern Province raises concern The grant was provided as part of implementing the Sustainable Forestry and Efficient Renewable Energy for Improved Livelihood (SFERE) project. This grant is designed to improve the resilience of forest landscapes and the communities reliant on them to combat climate change. ALSO READ: Rwanda on course to restore two million hectares of deforested land The project will boost sustainable biomass production for cooking purposes, promoting the use of improved cookstoves. The reforestation will focus on Rwanda’s North-Western Province in the districts of Rutsiro, Rubavu, Ngororero, Nyabihu, as well as all districts in the Eastern Province. ALSO READ: Project in pipeline to restore Congo-Nile Divide Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa said the funding will help plant more forests and implement projects to reduce pressure on forests. “Rwanda is committed to prioritizing climate change within its development agenda to uphold the socio-economic well-being of its citizens. These funds will play a pivotal role in sustaining climate change mitigation objectives.” The primary beneficiaries of this initiative in the targeted regions are communities residing near degraded forest plantations, women and women's groups, private entities including biomass and improved cookstove producers, service providers, small and medium enterprises within the value chains, and district authorities, among others. ALSO READ: How rural youth project is reducing charcoal usage The cooperation between Rwanda and Luxembourg is not only limited to this project but also extends to areas such as education, with a special emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), environment and sustainable development, innovative and inclusive finance, and digitalization, among others. This partnership signifies a shared commitment to sustainable development and underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges. Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg said: “We have projects in the field of the environment as climate change is one of our priorities .we shouldn't produce a general cancer for the next generations, by not reacting to protect our forests. Improve cook stoves and sustainable biomass production will enhance surviving income in the value chain development.” The Minister of Environment, Valentine Uwamariya, said the projects will also support women who are dependent on wood and charcoal as cooking fuel. “We have to keep increasing forests and also seek alternative energy for wood fuel and charcoal for cooking because we are still cutting a lot of trees. The improved cook stoves will use less wood and charcoal,” she said. She said that Rwanda is also exploiting methane gas to produce natural gas for cooking to reduce pressure on forests. In 2022, Rwanda launched construction of a $530 million natural gas plant in Karongi District. The compressed natural gas will be used for cooking, vehicles and industries. The project is expected to produce 40 MMSCFD (million standard cubic feet per day) which is equivalent to 990,000 cubic metres per day. Of this quantity, between 35 percent and 40 percent will be cooking gas. A total investment of $1.37 billion is needed by 2030 to achieve the government’s target of reducing charcoal use from 83 percent to 42 percent of population to reduce pressure on Rwanda’s forests.
