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Bellerive Foundation Kenya (UNEP) Institutional Stove Programme by C J Davey

Boiling Point
Front cover of Boiling Point issue 15
Issue 15 (1988) Stove Progress in Kenya and Sri Lanka
ArticleBellerive Foundation Kenya (UNEP) Institutional Stove Programme
AuthorC J Davey?
Since 1983 the Bellerive Foundation/UNEP programme has developed a number of projects in the field of fuel-saving. These have included the design and dissemination of domestic stoves, bakery ovens and institutional stoves as well as the promotion and establishment of small scale on-farm tree planting and agro-forestry activities.

[top] [end]The Institutional Stove Project

Whilst institutions account for a relatively small proportion of fuelwood consumption in Kenya they do represent an area of usage which is perhaps, the most easy to reach. Through a series of modifications to our original designs which have taken into account availability of raw materials - local manufacture capacities - consumer preference - performance in terms of fuelsaving we now disseminate 50, 100, 150 and 200 litre stoves which consist of brick insulation, brick and clay fireboxes, galvanised sheet casing and chimneys, mildsteel door assemblies and a stainless steel pot with lid. Performance is acceptable (at between 35-40% efficiency) and the construction is durable. (We have developed stoves with better performance but due to higher production costs and more complicated construction techniques we have compromised in favour of lower priced stoves of slightly lower efficiencies). Throughout the process of developing the improved stoves we have continued to market the current designs. By January 1987, having disseminated approximately 200 units, we concluded that, in order to expand our project effectively we must overcome 2 major problems.

  1. That poor management of the stoves by the cooks was, in the medium term, resulting in suppressed fuel saving performance and structural deterioration of the units problems which are common among other institutional stoves (which are less efficient) marketed in Africa.
  2. That the existing dissemination pattern (centred on installation teams based in the capital city of Nairobi) was inappropriate and costly.

Despite these problems and with no promotional effort we were experiencing a continually increasing demand for the stoves. Accordingly we reorganised the project.

Firstly we devised, tested and implemented an institutional stove package. Thus, we now market a system, not a stove. The system encompasses training and follow-up in considerable detail so that when an institution purchases an institutional stove package from the Foundation it receives:
  • site inspection where a craftsman visits the institution to assist the staff select the size and number of stoves appropriate to their needs; provision of sundry equipment including woodcutting stool, stove tools etc; train stove operators in operating the stoves, preparing and cooking the food, managing the wood store, maintaining the stoves.
  • one follow-up service visit.

Subsequently the institution is encouraged to take out an annual service agreement which provides for 2 visits to the institution to service the stoves and retrain the staff as necessary. The introduction of this package approach has led to dramatic improvement in the management of the units and continuing fuel savings. Service agreements are being taken up.

Secondly, we are developing a comprehensive dissemination programme by:
  • forming a central company which will coordinate the industrial manufacture of all metal components of the stove; establishing regional installation and service;
  • establishing a credit scheme.

The institutional stove package is fairly costly. With the prices of units varying between US dollars 600 and US dollars 1100 they are marginally more expensive than the other institutional stoves which are marketed in Kenya.

[top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 15: Stove Progress in Kenya and Sri Lanka

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BP15: Improved Stove Programmes in Kenya - BP15: After the Jiko? - BP15: Institutional Stoves in Kenya - BP15: Kenya Institutional Stoves Programme - BP15: Traditional Fish Smoking in Western Kenya - BP15: Sri Lankan Stoves Past and Present - BP15: The Work of the Alternative Energy Unit, CEB - BP15: The Netherlands-Sri Lanka Energy Programme - BP15: The Hambantota Stoves Project - BP15: Left Handed/Right Handed - BP15: National Fuelwood Conservation Programme - BP15: Sri Lanka's Stove Programme Achievements - BP15: Stove Promotion in Sri Lanka Takes Off - BP15: Better Ceramic Liners with a Jigger Jolly - BP15: Zmart Ztove - BP15: Tsotso Stoves in Zimbabwe



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Page created: 28 August 2008; Last edited: 29 August 2008; Version: 0
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Pagename: BP15:KenyaInstitutionalStovesProgramme @HEDON: PFNA