Clean Cooking Revolution Gains Momentum in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.

Wednesday 23rd July 2025

非洲记者报道

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) is catalyzing a significant shift in clean cooking in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia through a $4 million reimbursable grant to support the Burn Electric Cooking Expansion Program (BEEP). Spearheaded by Burn Manufacturing, a Kenya-based clean cookstove company, this program is poised to deploy 115,000 electric induction cookers across the three countries, transforming how low-income households meet their daily cooking needs.

BEEP targets households that are grid-connected but continue to rely on charcoal, a primary fuel source associated with deforestation, health risks, and high carbon emissions. Burn’s model makes these clean cooking appliances accessible through pre-financing and the monetization of carbon credits. By selling these credits on the voluntary carbon market, the program offsets the cost of the stoves, dramatically reducing the financial burden on end users.

Structured through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), BEEP leverages a $5 million senior loan from the Spark+ Africa Fund, SEFA’s $4 million grant, and $1 million in equity from Burn. The SPV is responsible for the entire operation, including cooker distribution, maintenance, and carbon credit management. The credits are shared among the project’s financiers, ensuring financial viability and long-term impact.

This marks SEFA’s first venture into carbon-financed electric cooking, showcasing its commitment to scaling efficient technologies. The initiative supports the African Development Bank’s broader clean energy strategy, particularly the Mission 300 Initiative and the New Deal on Energy for Africa, which aim to accelerate access to sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions continent-wide.

For Peter Scott, CEO of Burn, this milestone signifies a turning point. He sees this integration of carbon finance, mobile-enabled payment systems, and IoT monitoring as the key to delivering scalable, emission-free cooking alternatives. The project not only introduces a cleaner cooking method but also facilitates digital tracking and user engagement, ensuring performance and accountability.

Beyond environmental gains, BEEP has significant socio-economic implications. It’s expected to generate jobs throughout the supply chain from manufacturing and logistics to sales and technical services enhancing economic inclusion. The stoves will also reduce indoor air pollution, thus improving respiratory health among women and children, who are disproportionately affected by traditional cooking fuels.

By focusing on affordability and sustainability, BEEP provides a replicable model that could be extended to other countries facing similar challenges. With widespread adoption, the program could drastically cut charcoal use, mitigate deforestation, and contribute meaningfully to national climate targets. In a region where clean energy access is still out of reach for many, this program signals hope and practical progress toward climate justice and energy equity.