• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

The “Electric mobility in Burundi” campaign has been launched

ByWebmaster

May 29, 2023

BUJUMBURA May 29th (ABP) – The Ministry of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism organized, on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Bujumbura, a workshop to raise awareness among stakeholders on the advantages of “Electric Mobility in Burundi”.

“Faced with climate challenges, electric mobility is an essential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 in accordance with the Paris Agreements and Burundi’s commitments for climate change”. This was stated by the permanent secretary at the said ministry, Mrs. Faïda Catherine during her speech for the occasion. It also indicates that States around the world are mobilized to encourage other non-polluting modes of transport, in particular the non-motorized mode of transport including walking and cycling. According to her, opting for an electric vehicle means choosing an ecological car that pollutes less in use to improve human health thanks to the absence of CO2 emissions. At a time when the electricity and transport sectors are experiencing technological advances, the transition to electric mobility offers endless possibilities. These are two- or three-wheeled motorcycles, cars, buses, trains that could now run not on gasoline or diesel but on high electricity. This would avoid the emission of a large amount of greenhouse gases, as well as deaths or pathological complications due to air pollution. It is in that perspective that this ministry in charge of transport, through the Transport Resilience Project (PRT) in Burundi, which will be financed by the World Bank, and the Support Project for the Electricity Transition in Burundi, which will be financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), will create synergy for the development of sustainable transport, Mrs. Faïda said.

For his part, the focal point of that electric mobility project in Burundi, Mr. Edouard Nyandwi, indicates that the latter has three components, namely the institutionalization of electric mobility in Burundi, the elimination of short-term obstacles thanks to a demonstration of three-wheeled motorcycles and preparation for scaling up and replicating low-carbon electric mobility. Added to this is the long-term environmental sustainability of low-carbon electric mobility.

During the discussions, it was noted that this electric mobility project is facing a lot of challenges related mainly to high acquisition prices, the battery charging time which remains quite long and the lack of regulation and a clear sector policy. There is also the problem of a change in mentality and the lack of infrastructure.

Recommendations have been made. These are mainly the integration of the “electric mobility” component into the existing legal framework on road transport, the implementation of national policies and strategies for electric mobility and the adaptation of tax incentive systems for importers of electric vehicles.