ICU is currently implementing a CCAC/UNEP financed project in Rwanda titled “Strengthening Capacity for the Sustainable Cooling and Refrigeration Sector in Rwanda”, under the supervision of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority- REMA.
Started in September 2024, the project foresees the collaboration with Centro Studi Galileo and Rwanda Polytechnics to addresse high HFC emissions from Rwanda’s cooling sector, which contribute to climate change and increase energy costs while posing risks to public health and food safety. Inefficient cooling systems in cold chains, combined with limited government capacity to assess, model, and monitor these emissions, hinder effective mitigation. This challenge is part of a broader global trend: rising demand for cooling, urbanization, and the imperative to comply with the Kigali Amendment and Paris Agreement targets on SLCPs. Progress is further constrained by data gaps, fragmented institutional responsibilities, and limited technical expertise. The project builds on existing climate and energy initiatives led by REMA by strengthening stakeholders capacity, providing targeted technical workshops, integrating gender considerations, and improving coordination among agencies to ensure sustainable reductions in HFC emissions.
One of the key issues the project tackles is the high emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from Rwanda’s cooling sector, particularly in refrigeration systems. There are approximately 87,000 refrigerators, of which over 60,000 are considered obsolete and highly inefficient These appliances result in an estimated RWF 4 billion per year in wasted electricity Obsolete systems can consume up to 40–50% more energy than modern high-efficiency models. HFCs are powerful short-lived climate pollutants with a global warming potential thousands of times higher than CO₂ varying between 1430 up to 4470, making their emissions a significant driver of climate change. In Rwanda, inefficient and outdated cooling equipment, combined with limited technical capacity among government staff to assess, model, and monitor emissions, has led to the growth of HFC emissions. While comprehensive national statistics are still being developed, estimates suggest that the refrigeration and air-conditioning sectors are among the fastest-growing contributors to energy demand and SLCP emissions in the country.
Challenges in addressing the problem include:
- a lack of technical expertise on low-GWP alternatives,
- weak coordination across ministries and agencies,
- limited data on existing HFC usage,
- financial barriers to replacing old systems.
Prioritizing action on efficient cooling is essential for Rwanda: outdated refrigerators alone waste an estimated Rwf 4 billion in electricity each year, while weak cold-chain infrastructure contributes to about 40% of national food production being lost or wasted. These losses account for roughly 21% of land use, 16% of GHG emissions, and 12% of Rwanda’s GDP. In public health, inadequate cooling puts vaccines and medicines at risk, with global spoilage rates reaching 25–50% in poorly functioning cold chains. Inefficient cooling therefore accelerates climate impacts, increases energy costs, threatens food security, and undermines critical health services
The project adopts a capacity-building and technical assistance approach to address HFC emissions in Rwanda’s cooling sector. Its objective is to strengthen government capacity to assess, model, and monitor emissions, while promoting energy-efficient, low-GWP cooling technologies for cold chains. This approach was chosen because effective HFC mitigation relies on both strong technical skills and robust institutional coordination, ensuring sustained impact beyond the project’s duration.
Implementation is carried out jointly by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), representing the Ministry of Environment (MoE), Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), Centro Studi Galileo SRL, and the CCAC Secretariat, with active participation from technical staff and relevant stakeholders. For the certification of personnel handling fluorinated refrigerant gases, Centro Studi Galileo has developed a comprehensive eight-day training program, providing aspiring technicians with a complete learning pathway to obtain the international qualifications required for work in the sector. These competences are subsequently transferred to RP through dedicated training-of-trainers activities embedded in the courses for technicians.
Key project results include the delivery of technical workshops that enhanced knowledge on HFC emissions assessment and sustainable cooling, the development of an organizational structure document clarifying the roles of relevant ministries, and the integration of gender considerations into capacity-building activities.
To consolidate these achievements, multiple follow-up actions have been undertaken. ICU coordinated with the CCAC focal point at REMA to review the gender analysis for the cooling sector in Rwanda (1.1.4) and the organizational project structure document with relevant ministries (1.1.3), both drafted during the June 2025 workshop.
Currently, the project is undertaking a comprehensive analysis of global financial models and mechanisms in the sustainable cooling and refrigeration sector to identify best practices, challenges, and opportunities, assess their applicability to Rwanda, and provide actionable recommendations for the public and private sectors, culminating in a report and stakeholder presentation expected in early December 2025. In parallel, Centro Studi Galileo is revising training materials and adapting the technician courses to the Rwandan context, which will be implemented early next year, alongside a pilot test focused on the safe removal and management of refrigerant gases from old refrigerators.
Some of the main challenges encountered during implementation included coordinating and scheduling multiple stakeholders, limited baseline data on HFC emissions, and the need to adjust plans due to the replacement of the initially planned partner (ACES) with RP—a process still ongoing for some aspects—which required revising engagement strategies, continuous monitoring and follow-up activities, and adjustments to project timelines.
The information gathered so far has helped identify gaps and potential follow-up activities. Building on these lessons, the next phase will likely focus on scaling up sustainable cooling in Rwanda through certified technician training, safe management of obsolete refrigerant gases, and a circular economy model with incentives and innovative financing. Our aim is to leverage global best practices to develop Rwanda-specific solutions and reinforce the country’s role as a regional hub for sustainable refrigeration. Achieving this will require consensus and strong leadership from REMA to advance the next steps, ultimately benefiting the cold chain and sustainable cooling across East Africa.
