Efficient and Clean Cooking Stoves For Households in The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

With more than 95% of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo relying on biomass for cooking, and inefficient local charcoal production, clean cookstoves are crucial to slowing deforestation in the Congo basin.

This project focuses on deploying highly efficient improved cookstoves that reduce fuel consumption by 61% in the DRC, thereby slowing deforestation and saving families money. These stoves also reduce indoor air pollution by 65%, leading to improved health outcomes, particularly for women and girls.

The local production of charcoal, a common cooking fuel, is both unsustainable and costly. Additionally, using traditional and inefficient stoves leads to significant expenses for DRC families, with some spending up to $68 per month on fuel. Furthermore, the excessive smoke from these stoves poses serious health risks, contributing to over 3 million premature deaths annually, according to a study conducted by the Clean Cooking Alliance.

In this context, BURN Manufacturing's project provides a solution by introducing the JIKOKOA, the world's most fuel-efficient biomass stove. By adopting the JIKOKOA, families can reduce their charcoal consumption by an impressive 61%, effectively slowing down deforestation and saving DRC households a total of $2.12 million to date. Additionally, this innovative stove reduces indoor air pollution by 65%, leading to reports of fewer illnesses among families who use it. The health benefits, combined with the savings in fuel expenses and time, contribute to a reduction in gender inequities and an overall improvement in the quality of life while also helping to preserve the country's forests.

Through this project, BURN Manufacturing is providing a sustainable and life-changing solution to the pressing challenges faced by DRC families, offering them an opportunity for a better and healthier future.

Project Impacts and Benefits

The project has had the following impacts from 2020 to date.

• 20,000 clean cookstoves distributed
• 120,000 lives impacted
• 70,000 tons of wood saved
• 130,000 tons of CO2 reduced

This project impacts align with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

No Poverty – The clean cookstove’s remarkable efficiency enables households in DRC substantial cost savings from reduced charcoal purchase. The project has generated $2.12 million in household’s savings.

Good Health and Well-being - Cooking-related smoke inhalation is responsible for approximately 3 million premature deaths each year, according to estimates by the Clean Cooking Alliance. By using BURN's Jikokoa stove, indoor air pollution is reduced by 65% reducing the risks of respiratory diseases.

Affordable and clean energy - The Jikokoa stove's efficiency in cooking leads to weekly savings for its users, which are often reinvested in education. This initiative in DRC has collectively saved families $ 2.12M.

Decent work and economic growth - BURN Manufacturing distinguishes itself as the world's only vertically integrated improved cookstove company. All aspects, including design, engineering, and manufacturing, take place in a solar-powered facilities in Kenya. Since its inception, the project in DRC has generated over 150 local jobs and continues to build distribution teams across Africa. BURN manufacturing has created over 2500 jobs across Africa.

Climate action - The Jikokoa stove reduces fuel consumption by 52%, resulting in a decrease in both CO2 and non-CO2 emissions from cooking. Since 2020, this project has prevented the emission of 130,000 tons of CO2. Furthermore, by reducing the demand for biomass, the project contributes to slowing down deforestation.

Life on Land - Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss. Adoption of Jikokoa in DRC has saved up to 70,000 tons of wood.

More project information can be found in the Gold Standard Impact Registry. 

Vintages of credits: 2021, 2022
N.B.  Individual vintages cannot be selected for purchase. Purchases will include credits from the vintage range stated.