MAYANGE - With the aim of environmental conservation, an energy consultant, John Munyansanga, has introduced an improved institutional cooking stoves in over 10 schools in the Bugesera district, Eastern Province.

In an interview with The New Times, Munyansanga explained that the new stove saves up to 55 percent of firewood fuel compared to the common cooking method that saves only 39 percent.

"We design this stove in a way that all the energy produced in the wood inlet is concentrated on the cooking pot.”

"The oven also has a system that collects all the smoke from within and lets it out via a chimney – a method that promotes good health for the users as they will not inhale the bad smoke anymore,” he said.

Citing hospitals, schools, prisons and other institutions that use a lot of firewood for energy, Munyansanga highlighted that with the introduction of such a system, less trees will be cut down and more money can be saved as well.

"During our various installations, we noticed that under the traditional method, 28.9kgs of firewood were used to cook 20kgs of beans and with the new stove, 13.1kgs are used for the same,” he added.

A representative of Mayange (B) Primary School also noted that with the introduction of the stoves, the school is set to save on purchasing firewood, a measure which will enable them utilize the money for other developmental matters.

"This is a great initiative that not only enables us to save money but it has also made cooking easier and faster. Our kitchen staff does not have any problems with the smoke,” Innocent Nkusi said as he smiled.

The Safe Environment Conservation Management Programme is being introduced in various schools by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Millennium Villages project.

Officials said that installation of one stove costs about Rwf1.2 million however materials required to set up the ovens will soon be manufactured locally in a bid to lower construction costs.

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