Rwanda High Court: No Extension for Asbestos Removal Deadline 2027

• The nationwide asbestos removal exercise in Rwanda is expected to be completed by the end of the 2026/27 fiscal year.
• 94% of government buildings and 89.2% of privately owned buildings have had their asbestos roofing removed so far.
• Rwanda currently has 13 operational asbestos burial sites across the country, with designated areas for safe disposal under REMA's supervision.
• Experts warn that safe disposal remains critical to protecting public health and the environment, and recommend long-term monitoring of disposal sites.

The exercise has faced logistical challenges, as well as the need for continued sensitisation of private property owners because asking someone to remove asbestos from a building they have lived in for many years is not an easy thing.

The nationwide asbestos removal exercise in Rwanda has entered its final phase, with officials expecting completion by the end of the 2026/27 fiscal year. Despite delays caused by funding constraints and public sensitisation challenges, significant progress has been made, with 94% of government buildings and 89.2% of privately owned buildings having their asbestos roofing removed. The remaining work accounts for a small share of the estimated 1.69 million square metres of asbestos roofing that once covered buildings across the country. According to Alphonse Rukaburandekwe, Director General of the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), the exercise has faced logistical challenges and the need for continuous public sensitisation, making it difficult to meet the initial deadline. The programme was initially set to be completed by 2016, but was later extended to 2020 due to limited funding and a shortage of trained technicians.

The removal of asbestos roofing from public and private buildings in Rwanda is a long-standing effort that dates back to October 2009, when the Cabinet gave individuals and institutions six months to remove asbestos roofing from their buildings. However, this deadline proved unrealistic due to limited funding and a shortage of trained technicians. The exercise has been ongoing for over a decade, with multiple extensions to the original deadline. The current deadline of 2027 is expected to be met, but experts warn that safe disposal remains critical to protecting public health and the environment. Rwanda currently has 13 operational asbestos burial sites across the country, with designated areas for safe disposal under the supervision of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

The completion of the asbestos removal exercise in Rwanda by 2027 is crucial not only for environmental health but also for compliance with regulations. Failure to comply with the deadline may expose property owners to potential liabilities and environmental health risks. Environmental health experts have welcomed the progress made so far, but emphasize the importance of long-term monitoring of disposal sites to prevent contamination and pollution. Abias Maniragaba, an environmental health and economics expert, recommends that disposal sites be fenced, guarded, and monitored for more than 20 years to ensure they do not pose risks to surrounding communities.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the completion of the asbestos removal exercise in Rwanda by 2027, as failure to comply with the deadline may expose property owners to environmental health risks and potential liabilities.

Source: Original reporting via The New Times