Carbon Positive

Five hundred locally-made clean-burning stoves have been distributed in Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region under carbonpositive’s pilot project to reduce indoor air pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

During November 2006, 250 ceramic 'gonzie' stoves and 250 cement and sand 'mirte' stoves were distributed to households and small institutions. The distribution followed detailed daily monitoring of cooking activity and fuel consumption in 50 households, four small hotels and three large institutions (a teacher training college, boarding school and nursing college). More limited baseline data was collected from a further 450 households.

Multiple benefits

Demonstration sessions were held in each of the major population centres in the region outlining the advantages of the stoves. The direct benefits to users are reduced fuel cost or collection time, and reduced smoke and other harmful emissions. The wider benefits are the mitigation of global warming through reduced deforestation and lower emissions of greenhouse gases.

The demonstration team also showed the correct assembly, installation, care and maintenance of the stoves. A variety of different uses were demonstrated, including baking injera and bread, boiling water and cooking other stews and sauces, with emphasis on cooking methods that would ensure maximum efficiency and ease of use. As intended, these sessions attracted considerable interest and enthusiasm beyond the immediate pilot project participants.
 

Meanwhile, in the three large institutions, two different stove models - one for injera baking and one for water, stews and sauces - were installed to replace the existing open fires. These stoves have a metal outer casing, cement insulating lining, and a tall chimney to keep smoke high above the heads of the cooks. They were custom-built on site to suit the individual requirements of each institution, based upon a generic design which has already proved effective and popular elsewhere in the country. 

After a short trial period, during which the project team were on hand to help participants to adapt to using the new stoves, detailed monitoring of cooking and fuel consumption continued in the 50 households and seven institutions. The remaining households will continue to keep summary fuel consumption records which will be collected periodically by the project team.

Positive feedback

carbonpositive project manager Ally Charlton was at the project site to supervise the distribution and installation of the stoves, and gather initial feedback from the trial periods. Early responses to the 'mirte' and institutional stoves were extremely positive. Cooks were delighted with the 'cleanliness' and 'modernity' of their new stoves, finding that cooking was no longer dirty, hot, smoky or uncomfortable. They also noticed that they were using considerably less fuel.

Some difficulties were encountered initially with the 'gonzie'  which were somewhat anticipated, since the stove is cheaper and simpler, and the design is newer and thus less refined. But these shortcomings are being addressed through experimentation and adaptation of both stove installation and cooking methods. Feedback from the project will contribute to the on-going national programme for development and promotion of the gonzie stove.
 
Ally also witnessed the introduction of the gonzie stove in a number of households of the indigenous Gumuz population. This was a slightly more 'experimental' component of the project since the gonzie was not designed with the particular cooking practices of the Gumuz in mind. However, initial reactions were extremely enthusiastic and early feedback suggests that the new stoves are proving considerably more effective than anticipated in these circumstances.
 
Over the early months of 2007, monitoring of stove use and fuel consumption will continue, as will on-going stove promotion and awareness-raising. The new manufacturers will also be given training in sales and marketing techniques, and assistance in developing linkages with local credit and savings institutions, in order to help them to establish sustainable businesses which will contribute to the wider adoption of these stoves.

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