Bolivia launches national campaign for clean cooking energy

Within the next three years 100, 000 households in Bolivia will cook smoke-free. This is the aim of the ambitous campaign "Cocinas para una vida mejor" recently launched by the Bolivian Minister of Public Works and the German and Dutch Embassad

Around 9.5 Mio people live in Bolivia, more than half of them in rural areas. 75% of the rural population use wood as cooking fuel for their daily meals. The inefficient use of this fuel causes serious health and environmental problems. To reach a wide range of households with different socio-economic backgrounds different technologies such as Rocket stoves, improved Lorena stoves (namend Malena), solar cookers and gas stoves are promoted. The total costs of the campaign will be about US$ 7, 5 millions.

The national campaign has been opened in the beginning of an international seminar for household energy held in the first week of March in Bolivia's capital La Paz. About 140 technical experts, implementing agencies and representatives of different NGOs discussed strategies and exchanged experiences on the dissemination of improved cooking technologies. To deepen the commitment of all stakeholders a network will be established to exchanging information and experiences on energy for cooking.

The campaign is implemented in cooperation with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), within "Access to Energy Sercives"?, a component under the Agricultural Development Programme PROAGRO. The Dutch Government co finances this campaign as well as the improvement of the access to energy services for the productive sector and the social infrastructure in Bolivia.

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