New safer cooking stoves for Zululanders
Uthungulu Community Foundation introduces a safer and healthier cooking stove.
WITH more than four million paraffin- and fire-related deaths reported yearly worldwide, the Uthungulu Community Foundation (UCF) in a joint venture with African Clean Energy (ACE) last week introduced a safer, cleaner and cheaper cooking stove.
The Ultra-Clean Biomass Cookstove was developed in Amsterdam and was designed to make cooking more efficient while providing electricity for disadvantaged people.
According to ACE representative, Joe Wedi, the new invention blows air into the chamber, uses gasification to burn biomass and provides a smokeless flame for a safer and cheaper cooking experience.
‘Women and children die every year due to fire because they use paraffin stoves.
‘They are dangerous and have high health risk because of the fumes they produce.
‘With over three billion people cooking on open fires, this stove will improve their lives and will not cost them lots of money.
‘It only takes charcoal or wood pallets and comes with a solar plate that recharges the battery and offers light and cell phone charging slot,’ said Wedi.
‘In October we will be running a regional marketing and community outreach programme starting in Richards Bay.
‘It is imperative that we provide local residents with access to this needed resource. This will also create many job opportunities Zululand.’
UCF Chief Executive, Chris Mkhize said they became involved with the project because it will improve people’s lives, especially in rural areas.
The stove is now available at Build-It stores.
