Air pollution has become a global concern due to its large effects on human health and the environment. Rwanda is urbanizing quickly, and pollution from sources such as wood burning, vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and dusty roads has reached a worrying level in several districts of Rwanda. Urbanization will change industrial emissions in unknown ways, and it is necessary to study the variety of ways that industrial development will impact the climate, air quality and human health. Rwanda government has therefore established rigorous environmental pollution analyses saying that, all industrial project must receive an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permit prior to commencing construction on any physical changes or changes in the method of operation thus, ensuring a less polluting, healthier urbanization for Rwanda.

To minimize their impact on human health and the environment, a hydropower developers are expected to comply with air pollution control institutions and with the requirements of any air pollution control permits that have been issued to them.

A hydropower development must comply with national air quality regulations. Pollution generated during the construction phase of a hydropower project may include noise pollution and amounts of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates (PM2.5 & PM10) from blasting activities and fugitive dust from many sources, such as disturbing and moving soils (clearing, grading, excavating, trenching, and truck and equipment traffic), mixing concrete, drilling, and pile driving. A number of tools are available to conduct a baseline of air and environmental noise pollution during pre-construction and construction. However, these tools are associated with different workloads and require different levels of expertise.