Regional News - Africa

Regional INforSE meeting in Eastern Africa, March 22

The first meeting of INforSE Eastern Africa will be held at March 22, 1994 in Nairobi, Kenya, following the African Energy Initiative Seminar. The Agenda of the INforSE meeting will include: discussion of the NGO strategy Sustainable Energy Development Towards a World Strategy,

· proposed national activities as compilation of a directory of NGOs involved in sustainable energy projects and a directory of energy efficiency and renewable energy technology distributors and manufacturers,

· a proposal for establishment of an Association of Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy Technology Distributors in Eastern and Southern Africa, national level workshops that enhance information exchange and share experiences on sustainable energy activities,

Campaign on Sustainable Energy and Social Development.

Contact: FOOD, att. Mumbua Munywoki & Stephen Karekezi, P.O.Box 30979, Nairobi, Kenya, ph: +254-2566032, fax: +254-2-561464.

Success for fuel efficient cookstoves in Kenya

The number of energy efficient wood and charcoal stoves in use in Eastern Africa is rapidly increasing to decrease the consumption of woodfuel and to increase the standard of living. A well known success is the charcoal stove Kenya Ceramic Jiko - KCJ (presented in Soft Energy Worldwide, May 1992), which is now used in millions of homes in Eastern Africa. The introduction of Kuni Mbili Jiko (Swahili for stove using two pieces of firewood) from 1984 was another revolutionary idea. The Kuni Mbili design is a bridge between the conventional three-stone fire and the KCJ. It is easy to light, portable, less smoky, and consumes less firewood (saves 30%). It will easily burn all available biomass including maize cobs and stalks, twigs and cow dung.

Beside households, kitchens at institutions have a large potential for increased efficiency in their use of woodfuel. In 1980 woodfuel accounted for 84% of total energy consumed in commercial and public institutions in Kenya, and the amount is growing. One of the leading NGOs in Kenya, KENGO (Kenya Energy and Environmental NGOs), has developed a large, efficient stove for institutional use, KENGO Institutional Jiko (KU). If such a stove is introduced in 550 schools, wood consumption equivalent to about 4500 acres of forest could be saved annually. The response to the KIJ is very encouraging. Now institutions all over Kenya have these stoves and the demand is increasing. Well over 3000 institutional stoves have been installed already. The KIJ is a reliable and fast cooking stove that can cater for 50- 100 people. It can keep food warm for over 8 hours and gives a smoke-free, cool kitchen.

KENGO is developing new types of efficient stoves and other renewable energy technologies. More information: KENGO, P.O.Box

48197, Nairobi, Kenya, ph:+254-2-749747/48281.

Source: KENGO makes Cooking Easier, Alice Wafula, Environment Times, November 1993, Nairobi, Kenya.

More than 1000 solar homes in Senegal

In Senegal the majority of the population lives in the country and has little scope of being connected to a central grid in a foreseeable future. This is the background for the dissemination of solar home systems by the Projet Senegalo-Allemand d'Energie Solaire. The project has disseminated more than 1000 solar home systems in Senegal, mainly for lighting. Based on`previous experience the project has developed a solar home system that is appropriate for rural households in Senegal.

The typical solar home system consists of a panel, a battery, a control system, 4 incandescent 10W lamps and an electric outlet for 6/12 Volt. incandescent lamps were chosen for the project instead of fluorescent lamps that gives considerable more light; but they are 10 times as expensive as incandescent lamps and not easily available. The 4 lamps can be switched on for 4 hours each, after days with normal sunlight; this is usually sufficient. The number of lamps was chosen to correspond to the number of wifes (4) that one man can have according to Islam, the major religion in Senegal.

Local associations are involved in the introduction of the solar home systems, and the systems are usually financed by revolving fund, managed by the associations. They also have a role in the necessary maintenance of the solar home systems, and in maintaining information about the systems and their use. In each association there are two or three technicians with sufficient skills and with access to spare parts.

The Senegalese state has exempted photovoltaic equipment from VAT and import duties. This is done because of the importance of solar home systems and other photovoltaic applications increasing the living conditions for the rural population.

Source: Projet Senegalo-Allemand d'Energie Solaire. Le Systeme Photovoltaic Familial. Masse Lo and others, Dakar 1993. Report is available from ENDA, B.P.3370 Dakar, Senegal.