The Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) has advised importers of old and rickety vehicles also known as toxic cars to comply with the standard and requirement set aside by the government or face the risk of confiscation.
REMA also stated that the government has put in place measure to ensure that certificates to prove compliance from country of origin of such vehicles is adhered to by the importers.
According to a media report, recently Coletha Ruhamya, deputy director general of REMA said progress has been realised in terms of vehicle fumes reduction and awareness among citizens on the impact of air pollution.
The deputy director said”Vehicles not complying with emissions standards are not cleared by the Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre. They have been sent back for correction and service.
This has resulted in reduction of emissions though no comprehensive assessment has been done to quantify it yet,” she said.
She added that ‘Vehicle importers are also required to comply with the standards and are required to have certificates to prove compliance from the country of origin.
Ruhamya said importers are sensitised on the impacts of emissions to the environment and human health adding that commercial vehicles undergo emission inspection every six months for emission standards compliance while passenger vehicles inspected once a year
“They are sensitised not to import very old vehicles and be aware to check the emission tests at the purchasing point to prevent turning our country from being a dumping site or a receiver of the wastes,” she added.
She stated further that vehicles imported into Rwanda are fitted with catalytic converters to reduce emissions within one year of their entry into Rwanda pointing out that other measures have been put in place to ensure compliance with the vehicle emission testing by vehicle owners.
Ruhamya explained that inspections are done on imported fuel by competent authorities to ensure that it is of good quality.
Currently applicable standards in Rwanda require importation of low sulphur fuel, which also reduces sulphur content in vehicles emissions.
According to Ruhamya, a specific law has been developed for preservation of air quality and is now under review by the parliamentarians.
“This law applies to all sources of emissions including vehicles, and will establish requirements for every owner or operator of any source of emissions and will help to enforce emissions standards,” said Ruhamya.
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