Kerosine Stoves in Haiti

The authors' case is that from both the technical and economic points of view, Kerosine stoves are a viable alternative to charcoal in urban Haiti and should be considered for improved stove programmes.

He carried out comparative boiling water tests with charcoal and kerosine stoves using a French made pressure stove of the "Primus" type. Two types of charcoal stove were tested, the "Brasero" traditional and an improved stove but no description is given of either. 22 and 28 mm diameter aluminium pots were used which can be flat or spherical bottomed. Test procedures and calculations are not given so the results below are only significant for comparison of the three stoves.

At February 1986 Haiti fuel prices, the cost of boiling 2.25 1 of water in a 22 cm pan for the 3 stoves was 3.12 cents, 2.25 cents and 1.62 cents. The author comments that although it may seem strange to consider the use of an imported stove and a non renewable fuel rather than locally made stove and locally renewable (potentially) fuel, in an extreme case of deforestation and consequent long term, irreversible ecological deterioration this may be justified.

The urban housewife already has to buy her fuel in many countries and in Pakistan the government complements its afforestation and improved stove campaigning by subsidizing the price of kerosine for stoves. If the price of oil remains relatively low and as total deforestation, bare mountain sides and dust bowls appear on the horizon, such alternatives may need to be reconsidered in several countries. This could be done for middle class, urban populations which already buy charcoal "imported" from their rural areas and could be regarded, like improved stoves, as a "short term" measure until fuelwood growing is effective.