Emerging Cooking Solutions (ECS) is spearheading a shift from charcoal and firewood to sustainable cooking fuel in Africa. Starting modestly in 2010 with 40 households, we now have the capacity to produce clean, renewable cooking fuel for thousands of households. We work with customers such as Copperbelt Energy Corporation, First Quantum Minerals, Sandvik and SKF who like us wish to see an end to deforestation in Africa and and put a stop to the health hazards associated with smoky cooking.

Many companies and non-governmental aid-organizations focus on distributing clean cook stoves in developing countries. The introduction of modern solid-fuel stoves is one of the quickest ways to improve health and living conditions. We do this and go one step further. By pelletizing unwanted agro- and forestry waste we upgrade a nuisance to a 100% renewable bio-fuel  –  and sell it cheaper than the competing unsustainable alternative: Charcoal.

You destroy 6 tons of virgin forest when making 1 ton of charcoal. This can be replaced by less than 500 kg of pellets made from rice- or wheat husks, straw, peanut-shells, saw-dust or maize stover.

The Charcoal market in Zambia is worth more than USD 100 milion with very little or no tax-revenue generated for the country. A shift to regulated, sustainable and healthy cooking fuels will not only help save the forests and improve health, it will also create tax revenue for the continents continued development.

Africa is on the move, but most people are still spending hours every day over smoky fires. It is time for Africa to take a leap in cooking technology.