Rwanda is set to begin using methane gas extracted from Lake Kivu for cooking by early 2028, the Minister of State for Infrastructure, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, announced.

The initiative comes as household cooking gas prices continue to climb. A 12 kg cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) now costs around Rwf30,000, up from Rwf21,000.

Uwihanganye explained that the shift to Lake Kivu methane is part of Rwanda’s strategy to reduce dependence on petroleum, especially in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting global fuel markets.

“Even after the conflict ends, its effects will linger. Long-term solutions are essential,” he said.
The first phase of distribution will focus on high-energy consumers, including schools, which currently use 45% of all firewood in the country, according to the Ministry of Environment.

Construction of a multi-million-dollar plant to process compressed natural gas (CNG) from Lake Kivu began in 2022. The facility, managed by Gasmeth Energy Ltd under a 25-year government concession, will produce up to 40 million standard cubic feet of methane daily, with about 35-40% reserved for cooking gas.

Lake Kivu contains an estimated 60–70 cubic kilometers of methane, of which nearly 45 cubic kilometers is deemed extractable. The gas is already used for power generation, but firewood remains the main fuel in rural areas, with 93% of households still relying on it.

To further cut reliance on charcoal, the Ministry of Infrastructure estimates that $1.37 billion will be needed by 2030 to reduce charcoal use to 42%.

The new cooking gas program aligns with Rwanda’s broader goal of promoting cleaner energy and reducing firewood consumption in institutions and households across the country.