Identification of weaknesses in the implementation of environmental impact assessment regulations in industrial sector: A case study of some industries in Rwanda, Africa

Abstract

The global environmental security and a cleaner productive ecosystem following the increasing industrialization and urbanization largely depend on the level of compliance with the relevant environmental impact stipulations. Consequently, this study highlights the weaknesses in the execution of environmental impact assessment (EIA) among the major industrial sectors of Rwanda. The study involves three industries with EIA Certificates issued by Rwanda Development Board and Rwanda Environmental Management Authority, the main consulting organizations. The institutional strength and weaknesses, awareness of industrial workers, and resources allocation in implementation of the EIA were studied by assessing compliance with the EIA through review of EIA report, site observation, interview, and administration of questionnaires. The study reveals unsatisfactory compliance with EIA among the industries. These weaknesses are due to lack of institutionalization of environmental units and environmental officers in the industries, poor status of industrial environmental policy, poor institutional coordination, and low capacity to implement EIA. Again, the capability of an annual environmental audit by the industries and how sufficient is the follow-ups by responsible authorities, as well as the low awareness of the existence of environmental management plan, and inadequate resources allocation are potential confronting challenges. It shows that EIA process is not fully functional in Rwanda and based on observations, it proposes possible recommendations like; the establishment of environmental units by the industries, as well as employment of environmental officers to oversee implementation of plans. The capacity building in the employees to implement EIA, conduct annual environmental audits, and initiate follow-ups, as well as regular monitoring in industries. Further, the government should strengthen institutional coordination in the implementing of EIA and ensure real resources allocation in the implementation.