PKSF Managing Director Dr Quazi Mesbahuddin Ahmed was quoted by the Bangladesh Financial Express as saying that the new stoves had the potential to reduce fuel consumption by 50 per cent and reduce emissions significantly.
The stoves were originally developed by the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and were subsequently upgraded by GTZ. According to a GTZ presentation, "Empowerment of Women for use of Improved Cook Stove to save energy and improve health" (2008), the Improved Cookstove, Bondhu Chula, was an adaptation of technology from IFRD and BCSIR and chosen on counts of being affordable and acceptable by people, could use all types of biomass available and could be made using locally available raw material.
According to GTZ, the advantages of the Bondhu Chula were, apart from no smoke in the kitchen, increased energy efficiency of 27% -29% and fuel saving of 50% -60% compared to traditional stoves. There was significant reduction of indoor air pollution in kitchens and reduction of cooking fuel by about 50 per cent, leading to saving of money, less time (50%) for collection of fuel as well as less time (30%-40%) for cooking. Apart from these, the stove resulted in clean kitchen and pots, reduced burden on forest resources, improvement of soil by increased use of bio-fertilizer and income generation for builders and trainersThe Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) works worldwide in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development, providing viable, forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalised world.
According to GTZ, its renewable energy and energy efficiency programme is directed at poorer families which, too, are in a position to replace appliances such as traditional stoves and kerosene lamps. The programme supports the use of energy-saving appliances and production processes and promotes the dissemination of technologies based on renewables.
A recent study by Prokaushali Sangsad Limited on "Gender Analysis of Measures Supported by Sustainable Energy Development (SED) Project of GTZ, Bangladesh", drew some interesting insights on building awareness about improved coosktoves through GTZ's partner organizations.According to the study, "Success at the field level is strongy dependent on the available logistics of the POs and their effective participation in information dissemination. For the improved cookstove poject (bondhu chula), women are closely attached as users. The families who are using them are very pleased with the outcome of their investment. Since the NGOs typically work directly with the women in the rural area, information is more readily available for them. On the other hand, the women from the suburban towns do not get information as easily. Much of the information on the benefits and satisfaction from the use of ICS is spread through word of mouth and neighboring women who visit the users. Public advertisements and announcements also play significant role in information dissemination."
Photographs: GTZ Presentation
