The Government of Rwanda has partnered with the data-driven super platform Bboxx to distribute 50,000 affordable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cooking kits to low-income households, in a major push to reduce reliance on biomass fuels.
The 18-month program is being implemented in collaboration with Forward7, an initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and aims to accelerate Rwanda’s transition away from firewood and charcoal.
This initiative directly supports Rwanda’s national clean cooking strategy, which aims to drastically reduce the number of households using firewood for cooking. Currently, biomass fuels like firewood and charcoal are the dominant cooking fuel in Rwanda, contributing to significant deforestation and severe indoor air pollution, which disproportionately affects the health of women and children.
Under the new program, each household will receive a complete LPG kit, which includes a two-burner stove, a 12-kg gas cylinder, and a smart Cylinder Locking Valve (CLV). This smart valve enables pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) functionality, allowing families to make small, flexible, and predictable payments for their cooking gas, a model Bboxx states has already helped its existing customers more than double their average monthly LPG consumption.
Anthony Osijo, Group CEO of Bboxx, called the initiative a landmark partnership. “We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Government of Rwanda… It demonstrates how governments and innovators can work together to deliver affordable, scalable solutions that improve lives and protect the environment,” Osijo said.
Bboxx, which moved its global headquarters to Kigali in early 2024, has a long-standing presence in the country (RDB). This new program builds on its existing operations.
“Clean cooking is about more than technology,” Osijo added. “It’s about health, opportunity, and sustainability for millions of families. This partnership reflects Rwanda’s leadership in clean energy and our shared vision for an inclusive, sustainable future.”
To date, over 7,000 kits have already been deployed across the districts of Kigali, Rwamagana, and Musanze, benefiting more than 35,000 people. Bboxx plans to expand distribution to 10,000 households by the end of 2025 and reach the full 50,000-kit target by late 2026.
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