Volcanic stones: A new source of cooking fuel

About 94 per cent of Ugandans prefer using charcoal and firewood as the main source of fuel for cooking, the Uganda National Household survey of 2016/17 shows. Of these statistics, charcoal takes a bigger share.

Cost of charcoal
But charcoal users are beginning to feel the heat as the price of charcoal which is mostly used in urban centres has skyrocketed to over Shs100,000 for a 50 to 60 kilogramme bag.
Remember this bag of charcoal for an average Ugandan family who prepare roughly three meals a day breakfast, lunch, and supper, they can only use it for about four weeks or less.
Charcoal is just a small component on the long list of daily expenses in an economy whose living conditions are getting harder by the day.
This has left many Ugandans yearning for cheaper alternatives in order to save. Some of these alternatives range from Liquefied petroleum gas, coffee husks and briquettes -to- innovations of stoves that save energy.
Three Ugandans with different experiences with this challenge came up with an innovation that they thought will help many them and other people save.
Through their company – Ebenezer Energy stoves Ltd – is now making eco-friendly energy saving stoves that use volcanic stones as charcoal.
Equipped with Shs2 million as its investment capital, this company opened shop in March 2018. With only one year and eight months on the market, they have seen their revenues grow to Shs400 million.
This shows that the demand is huge for their kind of innovation and they are contributing to saving lives and the environment.
But how did the thought of starting such an eco-friendly business start?

Respiratory infections
Charcoal, firewood, and other biomass fuels produce smoke and expose household members to respiratory infections.
Ms Jane Carol Nabukwasi, one of the four directors of this company wanted to change that.
“Our motivation was partly into creating renewable energy while protecting the health of especially the rural Ugandans who waste away their lungs blowing firewood to light.”
A research in the rural community led them to identify the people who could use their stoves.
“We thought if the sun can blow constant human air, then how do we get a fan to blow air into the stove without over-consuming charcoal? That is when the volcanic stoves came about,” Nabukwasi shares.
Ideally, the use of volcanic stones came about because they are reusable and if given any heat supporter like a fan.
Nabukwasi adds that for the fan to blow, it requires energy. But only two things can do this job - solar power or electricity from the power grid.
Setup and installation
The stoves’ unique features include a fan, regulator/steamer and it is connected to a solar panel with a battery.
Explaining the mechanics of the stove, Nabukwasi says that they put the panel on an elevated surface where there is direct sunlight. Then the battery cable pin is plugged into the stove, and then they switch on the regulator. Before lighting, the volcanic stones are placed into the stove.
Using a normal charcoal lighter, with the help of a few pieces of charcoal, the head to the volcanic stones is lit. Then more volcanic stones are added onto the stove and the regulator is switched on.
Once your stones are red hot, it is advised to either reduce or switch off the regulator.
“If you are going to cook for a longer period, it would be advisable to add a little bit of briquettes to keep the heat in the volcanic stones,” Nabukwasi explains.
Besides using solar, the company also makes electricity stoves which use an adaptor that takes 12 Hwts of electricity. In just a month, one can use up about five units of electricity according to the company’s research.
“With both solar and electricity stoves, we provide the volcanic stones as a full package,” she explains.

Pricing
The smallest stove that can be used by a model family goes for Shs500,000 while the biggest that can be used in Hotel Kitchens and Hospitals is Shs3 million. This one also has an oven compartment.
“Each stove comes with a battery, a solar system and then two packets of volcanic stones. We also have customers who prefer electricity stoves, where the cheapest costs Shs260,000,” Nabukwasi says.
The stoves can be accessed in Mukono, Ntinda, and Wakiso where the company has established selling hubs.
Nabukwasi says although the price of the stoves looks high at first mention, they have worked out an installment payment plan where they allow the customer to pay a 50 per cash down payment while the rest is paid within two months. So they agree with the customers on a workbale payment plan.
“We discuss how much they earn, decide on a target payment arrangement and then sign an agreement before the product is delivered,” she explains.
Their target market is in institutions, restaurants, government markets, the cooking vendors who vend food in the market and households.
In the last quarter, they have supplied to around 30 schools and institutions plus six hospitals.
Although the price could put off some potential customers, Nabukwasi says it is a one-off payment whose benefits are enjoyed in the long-term.
“I always tell our customers that the initial fee of acquiring is high but your overhead expenditure reduces drastically.
The company also supplies these stoves in Kenya and South Sudan through an agent. They also hope to expand to Rwanda and Tanzania as they grow the business.
Just like any other business, Ebenezer Energy Stove Limited’s biggest challenge is the credit the reluctance of some customers to pay after acquiring the stoves. This makes it difficult to take it back since it is already in use.
The other challenge is the market or people adapting to the new technology.
“No matter how much you sensitise, there is always someone who doubts that the products will help them reduce on the cost of cooking energy,” Nabukwasi says.