The Effect of Gaz Fire on Economic Development of Rwanda “Case Study of Kitchen Fires for Nyarugenge and Gitega Sectors of Nyarugenge District in Kigali City
Abstract
The whole world, Rwanda inclusive is striving to improve access to affordable and reliable modern forms of energy services which may result in poverty and environmental related effects alleviation and sustaining the global economy (Leach, 1992; UNDP, 2005; Modi et al., 2005; WHO, 2006a; UNDP and WHO, 2009; UNIDO, 2009; AGECC, 2010; World Bank, 2011a; Barnes et al., 2011; Ekouevi and Tuntivate, 2012). However, currently 1.26 billion people do not have access to electricity and 2.64 billion people rely on traditional biomass (firewood, charcoal, dung and agricultural residues) for cooking mainly in rural areas of developing countries (IEA, 2013).
In the recent years Cooking gases were introduced in developed, developing and underdeveloped countries as best approach of cleaner energy which takes into account the protection from prevention from the emission of greenhouse gases which led to the global warming effect and air pollution (UNDP and WHO, UNIDO, 2009).
Several researchers have conducted many studies on the approach of introducing the use of gases in cooking as previously charcoal and fire woods were used in daily life as available approach of cooking while they increase the rate of environmental degradation due to deforestation during the production of charcoal and fire woods (World Bank, 2011a). Research study was conducted on effect of gaz fire on economic development of Rwanda, case of Nyarugenge and Gitega Secctors in Nyarugenge District of Kigali City where different perception on the cause of gas fire or Incendies were elaborated, among 96 interviewed and consulted people selected from 2123people of Nyarugenge and Gitega sectors 14 agreed on poor installation, 10 agreed on Shortage of area to hold cooking gases, 18 agreed on Carelessness during using gases,30 agreed on the Lack of fire extinguishers while 24 remaining consulted populations agreed on Lack of enough skills and training.
The Corelation of progress in gas use and fire accidents in Gitega and Nyaugenge sectors were also analyzed where the research findings showed that there is a high increment in gases use in the years of 2016 ,2017,2018,2018 and 2020 as the following percentage 0.4;0.8;11;30,63 respectively, however, the increments in accidents were related to the stated years are 0;3;4;6’11 respectively.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
The whole world, Rwanda inclusive is striving to improve access to affordable and reliable modern forms of energy services which may result in poverty and environmental related effects alleviation and sustaining the global economy (Leach, 1992; UNDP, 2005; Modi et al., 2005; WHO, 2006a; UNDP and WHO, 2009; UNIDO, 2009; AGECC, 2010; World Bank, 2011a; Barnes et al., 2011; Ekouevi and Tuntivate, 2012). However, currently 1.26 billion people do not have access to electricity and 2.64 billion people rely on traditional biomass (firewood, charcoal, dung and agricultural residues) for cooking mainly in rural areas of developing countries (IEA, 2013). Household cooking consumes more energy than any other end-use services in low-income developing countries (IEA, 2006; Daioglou et al., 2012). The widespread cooking practice with solid fuels, such as traditional biomass and coal, can have severe implications for human health, forest/land degradation and climate change. Bruce et al. (2000) and WHO (2006a), findings on air pollutants emitted from solid fuels often burned indoors on inefficient cook stoves, is one of biggest challenges to human health in developing countries (Lim et al. (2012), for example, estimated that in 2010, about 3.5 million premature deaths were caused by household air pollution (HAP) resulting primarily from cooking with solid fuels. Hence, the World Bank has recently launched a number of regional clean cooking initiatives, such as the Africa Clean Cooking Energy Solutions to promote enterprise based, large scale dissemination and adoption of clean cooking solutions and the East Asia and Pacific Region’s Clean Stove Initiative (CSI) to scale up access to advanced cooking stoves for rural poor households through country-specific technical assistance and a regional knowledge sharing and cooperation forum. Besides these global initiatives, there are several initiatives to promote clean cooking.
Rwanda has also adopted such clean cooking initiatives through use of low-fuel energy cooking stoves known as Rondereza in rural areas and gas cookers in Kigali, secondary cities and other civilized people in rural areas to reduce poverty and related environmental effects by promoting sustainable economic development. However, gas related fire accidents have increased up to killing more than 6 people and damaging 50 houses since 2016 in Kigali (Kwizera, 2019). Due to accidents related togas kitchen fires and the high price of buying gas, Umurerwa (2018) asserted that the gas users in Rwanda may continue to diminish. Recent studies, have shown that at least 5 minor accidents of kitchen fires related gas take place in Kigali per day because of lack of expertise in using gases and lack of portable fire extinguishers and advanced prevention technology. Though, this case does not get the level of involving fire brigade (Musonera, 2018; and Kaneza, 2018). It is in this regard; the researcher wants to conduct a study to demonstrate the cause, effect and the level of gas kitchen fires on socio-economic development of Kigali especially in Nyarugenge in the sector of Gitega and Nyarugenge.
Conclusion
4.1 Conclusion The increments of gases use in the recent years were highly proven by the data of market analysis for Gases consumable perception and the increase of LPG prices day to day. The need of gas on the market is highly motivated by the will of different country’swill which enhance the use of cleaner energy, but without immediate action on the regulation of cost analysis of gases, the cost of cleaner energy or gases should be matched with the capacity of the consumer. Therefore, political willis highly needed. 4.2 Recommendations Referring on research findings, the following recommendations were developed: 1. Several trainings on gases firefighting are highly needed in all sectors by starting where gases and LPG are being sold. 2. Regulation on the cost of LPG should designed by considering the purchasing power of the consumer 3. Campaigns and political will are highly needed in enhancing the use of cleaner energy which prevents the pollution of environments. 4. Future researchers are highly recommended to conduct further studies to support the research finding of the study.
