MTN Rwanda launches Project Zero, swaps out 15% of its fleet for electric vehicles.

MTN Rwanda has today announced the launch of an environmental initiative dubbed MTN Project Zero, which aims to realize greater energy efficiencies and lower carbon emissions.

In the National strategy for climate change and low carbon development, Rwanda committed to addressing the challenge of climate change and reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2050. Additionally, MTN Group announced earlier in the year its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by no later than the end of 2040. MTN Rwanda, in playing an active role to contribute to these ambitions, today announced the launch of Project Zero which will see a series of environmental initiatives to be rolled out starting now and into the New Year. This project prioritizes renewable solutions, efficient emerging technologies, and energy storage. 

To kick off the initiative, MTN Rwanda has swapped out 15% of its fleet for electric vehicles. This initiative was announced during a “Go Green Drive” in Kigali earlier today.

“Congratulations to MTN Rwanda for the launch of Project Zero aligning with Rwanda’s Climate action plan to reduce 38% of greenhouse gases emissions by 2030 (compared to business as usual) leading up to our Vision 2050 of a carbon-neutral economy. I take this opportunity to encourage other players in our economy to go Green and scale up initiatives that reduce greenhouse gases emissions while aiming at efficiency. The Government of Rwanda has provided fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to create an enabling environment for renewable energy and electric mobility transition.  Beyond benefiting from reduced air pollution, such green initiatives will reduce our reliance on imported items such as fuel and contribute to a more stable economy as well as improved well-being,” said Hon. Minister Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya.

During the Go Green Drive, Mitwa Ng’ambi, MTN Rwanda Chief Executive Officer highlighted “Every year, climate change continues to threaten us as individuals, as a country and globally. Being a global issue, we have a part to play in addressing it. Studies have shown that cars emitting carbon fumes are the highest contributors of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and at MTN Rwanda, we are determined to transform how we do things with the launch of MTN Project Zero, kicking off today with the introduction of these electric cars to our fleet. Though there’s still so much more to be done, this is just the beginning of what we hope to accomplish in reducing overall emissions across our footprint in Rwanda.”

MTN Project Zero, which underpins the National strategy for climate change and low carbon development, encompasses several initiatives that will be implemented under MTN’s umbrella strategy Ambition 2025. These include modernizing and activating power saving features in the Radio Network to consume less power, solar power sources in Datacenters as well as emphasis on electronic waste management, amongst others.

“We recognize that we need to reduce our overall emissions and acknowledge that this can only be achieved through strong collaborations with our partners. We encourage our partners to join this movement towards a Green Rwanda” added Ng’ambi. 

MTN as a Group believes that while it builds and operates telecommunications infrastructure to drive greater digital and financial inclusion, that this must not come at the expense of the future of our planet. The company will keep addressing the needs and challenges of society, which include playing its part in mitigating the effects of climate change.