Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP) International has helped launch new wood and charcoal cookstoves in Kenya saying that the items have the “ability to transform cooking practices” in the country.
Working over the past year with a group of experienced local stove makers resulted in creating a design that is within the capabilities of local businesses with higher performance rates and affordable prices.The technical redesign, going through several reworks, was carried out by Kenya Stove Works and prototypes tested with users and in the lab.
Based in Kiria, Riumba-ini Energy Saving Stoves is one of 10 companies making the new stove. Charity Gatchanja, who supports her husband Kenneth in the running of the operation, said: “It’s like cooking with gas. It’s very quick.” The stoves are made using heavier gauge metal than the typical locally made stove, allowing for more durability. The fire chamber cylinder will need replacing every few years while the remainder of the stove could last 10 years if properly maintained.
James Gatima, the GVEP technical advisor on the project, explained: “In traditional stoves the gasses given off in burning are cooled by the mass of clay which lines the stove and so are not burned fully. So you get smoke. In the improved stove the metal cylinder keeps the gasses away from the thermal lining, keeping the temperature high and ensuring almost complete combustion.”
Production is now underway not just in Central Kenya but in Kisumu in the west of the country. The next phase of the project is tooling up the businesses to improve efficiency of production, and a big marketing push to help the new stove find a market.
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