A household may find cheaper cooking gas nearby but be unable to buy it because its cylinder carries another company’s brand.
Clément Nzayisenga, owner of Clément Shop Gaz in Kigali’s Muhima area, says this limits consumer choice and makes it harder for small retailers to compete.
Nzayisenga is asking the Ministry of Trade and Industry, RURA and the Private Sector Federation to establish a system allowing customers to refill cylinders at different licensed suppliers, provided the cylinders meet safety standards.
He also wants regulators to examine how wholesale prices are set and ensure damaged or expired cylinders are removed from circulation.
Prices advertised by different suppliers show the variation. SP’s reported price is Rwf 11,670 for a 6kg refill and Rwf 23,340 for 12kg. Jibu Rwanda lists 6kg at Rwf 12,400 and 12kg at Rwf 25,000.
Tekeraheza lists 6kg at Rwf 12,500 online or Rwf 13,000 for walk-in service, and 12kg at Rwf 25,000 online or Rwf 26,000 walk-in.
CANA GAZ lists 6kg at Rwf 13,500 and 12kg at Rwf 26,500. MIGRO lists 6kg at Rwf 20,000 and 12kg at Rwf 35,000.
These are advertised prices and may vary by location, delivery cost, cylinder brand and service terms.
Prices can also vary by location. The New Times reported that 12kg cylinders sold for about Rwf 27,000 in Kabuga and around Rwf 28,000 in parts of Rwamagana and Huye.
Retailers cited transport and distribution costs. The report also said regulators no longer set standard cooking gas prices.
The comparisons are not perfectly alike, but they underline the dilemma Nzayisenga describes. A cheaper supplier offers little choice if a customer’s cylinder cannot be refilled there.
Any cylinder exchange system would need strict inspection and tracking to protect safety.
The issue is not new. In 2023, lawmakers raised concerns about gas prices, and then a joint team involving RURA and the Ministry of Finance was examining pricing. No updates on the findings or decisions have been made public so far.
Nzayisenga’s proposal renews questions about how to protect consumers from high costs while keeping the market safe and competitive.
