Efficient Stoves Reduce Deforestation in Eritrea

Project type: Efficient cook stoves

Project location: Debub and Gash Barka, Eritrea

Project status: Completed, no credits available

Annual CO₂ reduction: 2,500 t

The climate protection project in Eritrea supports the villagers in building smokeless, efficient ovens. The reduction of the smoke and greenhouse gases benefits the climate and at the same time promotes the health of women and children.

The project in Eritrea is being carried out by the Swiss support committee for Eritrea (Schweizerischen Unterstützungskomitee für Eritrea, SUKE) together with the Eritrean partner organization Vision Eritrea.

Until now, every household in Eritrea has a so-called mogogo oven with which the traditional flatbread (injera) is prepared. However, the ovens do not have a chimney or smoke outlet and consume large quantities of firewood, which is scarce in that region. The new smokeless and energy-saving mogogo oven model was developed and tested by the Eritrean energy ministry. With the new ovens, no more health-damaging smoke accumulates in the house during cooking, which benefits the health of the women and children. Moreover, the new mogogo saves about 50 per cent of firewood. The consumption of firewood, and therefore also the deforestation and the emissions of greenhouse gases, are consequently reduced. 

The project also includes other social advantages: The population saves itself the tiresome gathering of firewood and the cooking time is reduced. This way, more time remains for other tasks. Since less money has to be spent for the purchase of the expensive firewood, the project supports the poorest families in Eritrea and thus leads to a social balance. Project implementation was successfully completed by the end of 2011.

 

This project contributes to 8 SDGs (as of end 2021):

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The following SDGs are verified by the Gold Standard:

Each stove avoids 1 t CO2e per year.

These SDGs have been approved by myclimate:

Households spend less time on firewood collection and fuel preparation.

92% of stove users report improved air quality in the kitchens and better health conditions.

2,331 women have been trained.

16,878 people benefit from efficient and clean cooking.

340 temporary jobs have been created.

Each stove reduces firewood consumption by 0.7 tonnes every year.

The project saved 17,300 tons of firewood equaling 540 ha of forest area.

Situation without project

Use of non-renewable biomass fuels

Project standard

Awards

Project number

7121

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