StoveTec
Country: United States
Organization (running the project)
Duration
Jan 2009 - Jul 2010
Contact Information
Email:
miles@stovetec.net
Business phone:
541-203-0832
Goals
The goals of the project are both to distribute and to educate about StoveTec stoves to more than 2 million rural and urban households that use wood for cooking within South Africa and the surrounding regions. Restio energy works with the Nuon-Raps off-grid solar utility in order to test, demonstrate, and sell the stoves to rural communities that are in greatest need of improved cookstoves. Educating cooks about the proper use and benefits of the stove is critical to the project, so as to assure that the stove is being used properly and that users understand the importance and cost-saving benefits of the stove.
Background
StoveTec stoves were originally brought into South Africa by GTZ through the BECCAP program. Restio Energy was contracted by GTZ to assist in developing the stove market in rural areas due to the company’s experience in rural energy markets. Over the course of the program, StoveTec has shipped thousands of stoves to Restio Energy/GTZ. Micro-finance organizations and social entrepreneurs have been woven into the fabric of the project in order to economically involve local citizens and create a stronger connection to the stoves within the communities.
Expected Outcome
StoveTec stoves are being well received and distribution has increased as marketing, awareness, and education efforts have ramped up. Restio Energy is planning to explore and expand to different markets and, with a recent grant from The World Bank, will soon move forward with their expansion efforts. StoveTec is expanding too, allowing for the development of new and improved products. StoveTec is now directly subsidizing some international orders, ensuring that partners like Restio Energy can focus their efforts on market expansion, research and development knowing that the supply of StoveTec stoves will continue to be available and reliable. Due to the building momentum, we expect to see this project continue to grow and expand its reach to more households in Sub-Saharan Africa in need of improved cookstove technologies to curb Indoor Air Pollution health risks and fuel scarcity concerns. The overall target for South Africa for the next 5 years is to sell 300,000 stoves, a projection that can be both reached and surpassed.
Status
Restio Energy has recently ordered its third container from StoveTec, a sign that the increased publicity in national and regional publications as well as participation in numerous national interviews is beginning to pay off. The majority of StoveTec stove sales in South Africa are going to the agricultural and recreational market, yet due to rising electricity prices and increasing interest among enterprising sales agents, the low-income market is growing as well. Restio Energy is working with The Business Place, a training organization specializing in “township MBA’s” to set up Social Entrepreneurs in low-income rural areas. These entrepreneurs act as sales agents for the stoves, educating potential consumers on household energy, indoor air pollution and fuel costs reductions associated with the use of the stove. The micro-finance organization, PlaNET, also forms part of this partnership and together with Restio Energy, is exploring ways of financing the entrepreneurs and end users. Restio Energy is also opening up regional markets, with partners selling stoves in Namibia and Swaziland. Opportunities for new markets are being explored in Mozambique, Tanzania and Lesotho. Restio Energy now has 38 retailers throughout South Africa (excluding township sales agents), with more being added almost on a daily basis.