Rwanda has launched a new breakthrough project in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote clean and sustainable cooking solutions, targeting to reach 50,000 households across the country over the next 18 months.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) in collaboration with Forward7, part of Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), seeks to accelerate the country’s transition away from traditional biomass fuels and curb household air pollution.
Implemented by Bboxx, a Rwanda-based energy solutions company, the pilot project will distribute Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cooking kits in districts across the City of Kigali and the secondary cities of Musanze, Muhanga, Rwamagana, and Huye.
According to the Ministry, the clean cooking drive responds to Rwanda’s continued challenge of high biomass dependence, with wood and charcoal still accounting for the majority of household energy consumption.
“This partnership represents a major step in reducing dependence on firewood and charcoal by expanding access to modern and cleaner cooking energy,” MININFRA said in a statement.
Each household under the program will receive a two-burner gas stove, a 12-kilogram gas cylinder, and a smart pay-as-you-go device that allows users to purchase gas in small, manageable payments.
The arrangement, officials say, is designed to make LPG use affordable and accessible, especially for low-income families who have long been locked out of clean cooking options due to cost barriers.
Affordable access is the key to change by offering subsidized equipment and flexible payment models to empower families move away from polluting fuels and embrace safer, healthier alternatives.
The project, which began in February 2025, first rolled out in Kigali before expanding to Rwamagana and Musanze districts. Over 6,000 households have already received the LPG kits, with the number expected to rise as the project scales to additional districts in the coming months.
The program aligns with their broader mission for developing countries to adopt sustainable energy models. Rwanda’s partnerships are examples of how global collaboration can deliver tangible climate action and improve lives.
Beyond household benefits, the project will also contribute to carbon credit generation through verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Revenue from these credits will be reinvested into additional clean energy initiatives.
Rwanda’s strategic environmental vision and its continued leadership on the African continent in clean energy innovation has led to the country’s success in expanding renewable energy, electrification and sustainable cooking initiatives, positioning herself as a model for green growth.
Beyond equipment distribution, efforts are underway in conducting community outreach campaigns to educate households on safe LPG use and raise awareness about the environmental and health benefits of transitioning to clean cooking.
Rwanda’s clean cooking efforts are part of a broader national strategy to promote sustainable infrastructure, improve air quality, and reduce deforestation linked to wood fuel dependence.
Clean cooking access is essential to the nation’s long-term development and social well-being. Protecting the environment while improving livelihoods is at the heart of the country’s infrastructure agenda.
