Switching from kerosene to biofuel powered cookstoves could save the lives of thousands of women in Africa and reduce harmful emissions, a Nigerian microfinance expert has told RTCC.
Amina Junaid Sani, Green manager with SME Funds, says a biofuel gel produced from sawdust, grass and waste paper is a more effective alternative to kerosene, which is increasingly difficult to get hold of.
Some estimates record that over 90% of Nigerians use kerosene for cooking, which has experienced huge price fluctuations in the past year.
Cookstoves are a growing source of CO2 emissions around the world, but do not receive the same attention as other sources of pollution, such as power stations, aviation and transport.
The smoke produced from dirtier traditional stoves, generates many harmful pollutants as well as more greenhouse gases. 93,500 deaths a year are linked to its use.
“This is selling a dollar per litre, so it is affordable for [them], when you take it to local women in the villages you know what they are going through. It’s hard to get kerosene and people are keen to use this”.