Sale of Efficient Cooking Stoves - United Republic of Tanzania

This activity sells and distributes efficient cookstoves and solar PV with the purpose of electrifying rural areas. By replacing inefficient fuel stoves with efficient stoves using sustainable fuels it is possible to improve the livelihoods of millions of people, increase natural carbon sequestration and support the communities’ ability to respond to climate change challenges.

Fast facts

To date, this activity has sold more than 62,000 efficient cookstoves;
About 472 kilowatt peak solar PV systems have been installed and 12,200 solar lanterns have been sold.;
This activity’s stoves reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To date, the stoves have saved 125,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere;
91,250 tonnes of wood fuel have been saved over the past three years;
So far, about 60 women have earned an income from distributing the stoves.

The problem

For the past decade, Tanzania has lost about a quarter of its vegetation due to developmental deforestation and deforestation due to cooking activities.

The solution

To counter the deforestation resulted from cooking activities, this activity is distributing clean, modern and efficient cooking stoves which save about two-thirds of the current fuel usage. Cookstoves and solar equipment are sold at the activity office in Arusha, in their mobile shops and through 80 distributors across the country. The efficient stoves are smokeless and decrease pollution in the atmosphere. The stoves are modern, efficient and reduce cooking time by 50%, cutting people's fuel expenses in half.

Helping the planet

To date, this activity has helped save 125,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. The solar lanterns and home systems have saved about 70.2 tonnes of kerosene and 90,000 households have saved about five liters of kerosene every week for the past three years. During product sales and distribution, this activity educates customers and communities on the benefits of the stoves, including how they can prevent deforestation and build resilience to climate change.

Helping people

This activity has improved the livelihoods of more than 150,000 households. Employment opportunities have been created for about 63 women, who serve as distributors. This activity has also improved the education of more than 500 school children.

Scaling Up

This activity hopes to reach 300,000 households over next five years in rural areas, save about 1,050,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere and protect over 766,500 tonnes of wood from being chopped down.