New calibration facility launched to ensure accurate, reliable meteorological measurements

Elias Hakizimana Sep 16, 2023 0 Comments

By Elias Hakizimana.

The Government of Rwanda through Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) in partnership with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Rwanda Meteorology Agency and Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) has launched a calibration center to provide accurate and reliable measurements for meteorology, hydrology and air quality monitoring.

According to official note, the facility that is installed and put into use at RSB will facilitate the management and maintenance of sensors and measurement equipment to gather information on the weather, hydrology, and air quality.

The official launch of the calibration took place on September 14, 2023, and the launch follows Memorandum of Understanding was signed between these partner institutions on September 20, 2022, to support the establishment of a Calibration Centre for instruments related to the measurement of Meteorological, Hydrological and Air Quality Monitoring parameters and to ensure the accuracy of data for better planning in all sectors of the economy.

Following the signed MoU, the calibration equipment for Meteorology, Hydrology and Air quality monitoring were purchased and installed at RSB with aim to strengthen the capacity of RSB for calibration and verification of meteorological, hydrological, and air quality monitoring instruments in line with recognized relevant ISO 9001 standards.

The equipment are expected to help in comparing the measurements provided by laboratories of the said institutions to ensure accuracy of given information.

***The calibration center will facilitate the management and maintenance of sensors and measurement equipment to gather information on the weather, hydrology, and air quality.***

Raymond Murenzi, Director General of Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) said that the facility will provide reliable measurements to help service and information providers in climate and weather. He added that the accurate information will help to foster environment protection and related measures, to monitor air quality, to prevent disasters and to improve agricultural activities.

“Expansion progress and capacity building for these laboratories will continue until we manage to monitor air quality, heat measurements, underground water measurements in both lakes and rivers. The facility will also help to reduce the cost and the time spent abroad to measure the samples.” Murenzi said.

Aimable Gahigi, Director General of Meteo Rwanda said that this calibration center is the first ever in Rwanda and has the capacity to measure the samples in the country instead of being sent abroad. He added that the calibration will help them to provide reliable meteorological information.

“We used to rely on foreign measurement service, which was expensive and it could take long time,” Gahigi said.

The new calibration facility will provide measurements in only three (3) days while it could take between three to six months.

An official from REMA said that the center comes to boost the capacity of REMA’s current 22 measurement sites countrywide. We have responsibilities to monitor air quality and the calibration center will help us to have accurate and reliable information so that we take informed decisions.”

REMA is currently implementing a project entitled “Building the capacity of Rwanda’s government to advance the National Adaptation Planning process” with the objective of increasing the capacity of governmental authorities and local communities in Rwanda to plan, fund, implement and monitor climate change adaptation solutions in the medium to long-term.

The launched calibration center worth around Rwf600 million and there is a plan a head to standardize its measurements from regional to the international standards.