THE ECONOMICS OF IMPROVED CHARCOAL STOVES IN KENYA

Charcoal for cooking is a major expenditure for urban households in Kenya and improved stoves can reduce fuel costs by at least 25%. The author relates how, although an improved stove is more expensive than a traditional stove, the payback period is short and an improved stove also lasts longer. The benefits to society of a programme to encourage small-scale, informal sector production of charcoal stoves are seen to be large, even after accounting for the administrative costs. Such a programme may also provide limited employment and income gains for producers. The environmental impacts may be significant because of the energy loss in converting wood to charcoal and the fact that charcoal is usually made from felling whole trees.