Rwanda is advancing toward sustainable and climate-friendly cooling through a week of technical and stakeholder engagement activities held from 25–28 March in Kigali. The efforts are part of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project, “Rwanda Cooling Initiative: Enabling Deployment of Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling.”
Led by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (U4E) initiative as a technical partner, and the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) as issuer of the regulation, the project supports the development and implementation of a Technical Regulation for Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) as well as a Product Registration System (PRS) designed to demonstrate compliance with the upcoming regulations with the aim to promote energy-efficiency.
The regulation establishes Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and mandatory energy labelling for domestic refrigerators, air conditioners (up to 16 kilowatts), and lighting products. These requirements are aligned with the recently approved East African Community (EAC) standards, positioning Rwanda as one of the first countries in the region to make their adoption mandatory upon implementation. In addition to energy efficiency, the regulation also includes provisions for product safety and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for EEE.
Once implemented, these energy-efficiency policies will mitigate over 840,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions over the first 18 years—comparable to removing more than 27,400 cars from the road for the same duration. Annual energy savings are projected to reach approximately 107 GWh, equivalent to avoiding the need for a new power plant with a capacity exceeding 24 MW.
International experts from U4E—Victor Minguez (Monitoring, Verification and Enforcement) and Miquel Pitarch (Energy Efficiency Policy)—were in Kigali to support the stakeholder validation of the Technical Regulation, deliver training and prepare for next steps during the implementation process.
Ms. Antoinette Mbabazi, Acting Director General of RICA issued the opening remarks to the validation workshop:
“RICA is committed to ensuring that Rwanda’s market aligns with our national vision for sustainability and energy efficiency. By issuing and rigorously enforcing these technical regulations, we are safeguarding consumer interests, promoting fair competition, and facilitating compliance among businesses. The collaboration with REMA and UNEP’s United for Efficiency team has enhanced our capacity to regulate and effectively monitor cooling products entering the Rwandan market. We look forward to continued cooperation with all stakeholders to ensure that our regulatory framework supports Rwanda’s environmental commitments and fosters sustainable economic growth.”
Beata Akimpaye, Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Division Manager at REMA, commented, “This collaborative initiative between REMA and UNEP marks a significant milestone towards sustainable development in Rwanda. By transitioning to energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions, we are not only advancing our environmental goals but also unlocking substantial economic benefits. REMA deeply appreciates UNEP U4E’s expertise and support in positioning Rwanda as a regional leader in sustainable practices.”
Led by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (U4E) initiative as a technical partner, and the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) as issuer of the regulation, the project supports the development and implementation of a Technical Regulation for Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) as well as a Product Registration System (PRS) designed to demonstrate compliance with the upcoming regulations with the aim to promote energy-efficiency.
The regulation establishes Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and mandatory energy labelling for domestic refrigerators, air conditioners (up to 16 kilowatts), and lighting products. These requirements are aligned with the recently approved East African Community (EAC) standards, positioning Rwanda as one of the first countries in the region to make their adoption mandatory upon implementation. In addition to energy efficiency, the regulation also includes provisions for product safety and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for EEE.
Once implemented, these energy-efficiency policies will mitigate over 840,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions over the first 18 years—comparable to removing more than 27,400 cars from the road for the same duration. Annual energy savings are projected to reach approximately 107 GWh, equivalent to avoiding the need for a new power plant with a capacity exceeding 24 MW.
International experts from U4E—Victor Minguez (Monitoring, Verification and Enforcement) and Miquel Pitarch (Energy Efficiency Policy)—were in Kigali to support the stakeholder validation of the Technical Regulation, deliver training and prepare for next steps during the implementation process.
Ms. Antoinette Mbabazi, Acting Director General of RICA issued the opening remarks to the validation workshop:
“RICA is committed to ensuring that Rwanda’s market aligns with our national vision for sustainability and energy efficiency. By issuing and rigorously enforcing these technical regulations, we are safeguarding consumer interests, promoting fair competition, and facilitating compliance among businesses. The collaboration with REMA and UNEP’s United for Efficiency team has enhanced our capacity to regulate and effectively monitor cooling products entering the Rwandan market. We look forward to continued cooperation with all stakeholders to ensure that our regulatory framework supports Rwanda’s environmental commitments and fosters sustainable economic growth.”
Beata Akimpaye, Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Division Manager at REMA, commented, “This collaborative initiative between REMA and UNEP marks a significant milestone towards sustainable development in Rwanda. By transitioning to energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions, we are not only advancing our environmental goals but also unlocking substantial economic benefits. REMA deeply appreciates UNEP U4E’s expertise and support in positioning Rwanda as a regional leader in sustainable practices.”