Resource information
Biomass is the most important source of
energy in Rwanda, especially for domestic cooking. Today
approximately 86 percent of primary energy comes from
biomass, mainly in the form of wood that is either used
directly as a fuel (57 percent), or converted into charcoal
(23 percent) together with smaller amounts of crop residues,
and peat (6 percent). In the past, the production of
charcoal in Rwanda was one of the factors that contributed
to deforestation. Nowadays, due to massive reforestation in
the country, Rwanda may well be among the few African
countries where the relation between charcoal and
deforestation no longer exists. However, even with charcoal
featuring as an important economic and ecological potential,
the sector is generally not considered as a possible means
to achieve long-term sustainable development, for example as
a low-carbon growth option contributing to energy security
and poverty alleviation. In this context, the feasibility
study focuses on the elaboration of a road map to develop a
modern and efficient charcoal value chain. The economic
development and poverty reduction strategy (EDPRS) is the
medium term programmatic framework for achieving the
country's long term development aspirations as embodied
in Rwanda vision 2020, as well as the intermediate targets
in the 2015 millennium development goals (MDGs). The
modernization of the charcoal sector requires a consensual
vision statement from all relevant government authorities on
accepting and promoting sustainable charcoal production and utilization.
