Darfur Efficient Cook Stoves Project, Sudan

Project Overview

This energy efficiency project helps to improve livelihoods in the Darfur region of Sudan - an area going through what one expert has called "the world's first climate change war".

The Low Smoke Stoves project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by facilitating the switch to a more efficient and cleaner-burning fuel in low income communities.

The project aims to:

- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with burning non-renewable biomass in a resource-deprived region. Total emission reductions: 150,000 t Co2 e between 2008 and 2014.

- Improve the livelihoods of poor families and address energy poverty by switching to a clean energy source, LPG, for cooking purposes

- Reduce indoor air pollution from burning firewood and charcoal, thereby improving the health and quality of life for women and of children below age five

- Contribute to environmental conservation by reducing pressure on dwindling forest resources in Northern Darfur.

Project Detail

LPG can help the shift towards a low-carbon economy because the fuel features significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, N2O andCH4) than other commercially available fossil fuels such as coal and kerosene, or biomass fuels like dung, firewood, and charcoal.

This project helps to improve local health by reducing indoor air pollution. Biomass solid fuels such as wood, crop residues, and dung release large amounts of particulates, carbon monoxide and other pollutants when burned in simple inefficient traditional stoves. According to the World Health Organisation, prolonged exposure to biomass smoke is a major health risk, contributing to acute respiratory infections in children and other ailments.

The growing scarcity of biomass fuel (firewood and charcoal) in North Darfur increases the energy poverty faced by poor women and their families, and exacerbates the problems caused by local conflicts. The switch to modern fuels helps to improve living conditions and reduces the environmental impact of unsustainable wood harvesting practices.

Expert Comment

DR MICHAEL HOLLAND BSc, PhD; Member of the European Association of Environment and Resource Economists

" This project has a wide range of benefits - from improving health to reducing pressure on forests. Unfortunately, the people most at risk of ill health (the very young, the old, and people who are already sick) are also the groups likely to be most exposed to high levels of indoor air pollution from the use of traditional stoves.

The concept of providing cleaner, more efficient, stoves is straightforward. However, the success of the project is dependent on a detailed understanding of the environment and the people involved. For example, are the stoves sufficiently durable to last for a long time in their operating environment? Are they easily repaired? Can people afford the fuel? One of the key features of this project is the duration - six years; from 2008 to 2014. This period of time allows any issues to be identified and properly rectified"