Shell considers ethanol cook stoves for Nigeria

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Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company has signed an agreement with Project Gaia Prospects Limited for the conduct of a pilot study on the use of ethanol cook stoves in Nigeria, said to be a cleaner and safer way of cooking.

SNEPCo, in a statement on Sunday, said it would provide 2,500 clean cook stoves and 15,000 canisters for distribution to households in Lagos, while PGPL would ensure the supply of ethanol fuel blended with methanol during the one year study.

The ethanol clean cook stoves project is aimed at reducing the mortality associated with indoor air pollution by providing cleaner and healthier cooking alternative to kerosene, firewood and charcoal, the statement explained.

The Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves estimates that household air pollution contributes to 70,000 premature deaths every year and affects 127 million people in Nigeria, according to the statement.

At the agreement signing ceremony, the SNEPCo Managing Director, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, said, “We’re pleased to promote a safer cooking system in Nigeria as part of efforts to encourage access to a better source of energy.

“There is a compelling case for action on a better and cleaner cooking method. I’ll be taking a personal interest to ensure the agreement we’ve just signed delivers on all promises and opens the door to safer cooking in Nigerian households.”

The Director of Project Gaia International, Harry Stokes, also said, “We started this journey with Shell International in 2001 and executed the first project three years later in Brazil and Haiti, with support from the Shell Foundation. We then went to Ethiopia where the government has supported the use of ethanol clean cook stoves in all refugee camps, because of the inherent health benefits. We’re happy that the project is now in Nigeria with the active support of SNEPCo.”

He said Project Gaia planned the fabrication and assembly of the ethanol clean cook stoves in Nigeria to ensure their availability and promote local content development.

Also speaking, Shell’s General Manager, Production, David Martin, who serves on the board of the GACC, said, “We eagerly look forward to the completion of the pilot study in Lagos so that the benefits can quickly spread to other parts of Nigeria.

“This is about saving lives, stopping deforestation, and creating employment through the production of clean fuels in the country and the planned local assembling of ethanol clean cook stoves by Project Gaia.”

SNEPCo had earlier supported a pre-pilot health study in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, under the supervision of Prof. Christopher Olopade, a specialist in pulmonary medicine at the School of Medicine of the University of Chicago in the United States.

The 150 households covered in that study reportedly said they found the ethanol clean cook stoves better and more convenient.

Source: Punch