Rwanda has strengthened the implementation of its regulatory framework for energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling through a national training and a regional webinar organized under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project “Rwanda Cooling Initiative: Enabling Deployment of Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling.” The activities were supported by UNEP’s United for Efficiency (U4E) in partnership with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) to support the country’s regulatory approach to cooling products.
On 24 February 2026, U4E and REMA consultants Victor Minguez and Aime Jean Baptiste Akimana delivered a full-day technical training on the Product Registration System (PRS). The online platform, developed under the GCF project, is designed to operationalise Rwanda’s regulation establishing Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labels for air conditioners and domestic refrigerators. The regulation is currently under publication and is expected to be issued in the second half of the year.
The PRS enables manufacturers and importers to submit conformity declarations for regulated products and provides government authorities with tools for monitoring, verification and enforcement. Around 40 participants from public institutions and the private sector attended the training, including representatives from REMA, the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), the Rwanda Revenue Authority and Customs, and the national single-window portal operator Irembo.
The programme included a review of the technical regulation, covering conformity assessment procedures, documentation requirements, scope definitions, efficiency calculations and applicable test standards for refrigerators and air conditioners. Practical sessions demonstrated product registration, import request procedures and PRS navigation for manufacturers and importers, while government officials received training on system configuration, monitoring functions and market surveillance integration.
Earlier, on 19 February, REMA and U4E hosted an online webinar presenting Rwanda’s regulatory approach to MEPS, energy labelling, refrigerant-related provisions and market surveillance for cooling products. The event brought together government representatives from East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, along with regional organisations and development partners, to discuss Rwanda’s integrated regulation for electrical and electronic equipment and its implementation framework.
