Improved Cookstoves in South Africa

Over 700 million people in Africa rely on wood or charcoal fuel for cooking. Burning wood fuel for cooking on traditional open fires is incredibly inefficient and dangerous. The smoke – or household air pollution – from open fires causes 600,000 deaths a year in Africa and is the second-highest health risk on the continent. Switching to efficient stoves could prevent over 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions a year; however, most families can’t afford to buy them.

As of the end of 2023, TASC has distributed 745 000 improved cookstoves (ICS) in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere and Waterberg regions of South Africa. Our target recipients use traditional three-stone, open fires for cooking. We replace them with Rocketworks Zama Zama stoves which reduce wood fuel use by approximately 70% per household and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 6 tonnes per household per year. The stoves’ higher combustion energy reduces smoke by an estimated 50%, which dramatically reduces incidents of respiratory illness amongst the women and children who are historically most exposed to household air pollution.

Stove distribution starts with a community sensitization program which entails engaging with community members and leaders to provide information about the project and use of the stoves.

Following sensitization, TASC staff distribute the stoves and use a proprietary data management system to obtain the data required for the project registration and monitoring. Recipients sign an End User Agreement confirming that TASC can return to their homes to monitor stove usage.

The project is forecast to operate until 2028 and to avoid 11,5 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.