The Department of Electricity and Energy is launching a major initiative aligned with the G20 Clean Cooking Outcome to promote clean cooking solutions across Africa. This project aims to reduce health risks and environmental damage caused by traditional cooking fuels, improving millions of lives continent-wide.
Introduction: A Critical Step Toward Clean Cooking in Africa
In many parts of Africa, cooking remains a hazardous activity due to the continued reliance on traditional fuels such as wood, charcoal, and animal dung. These polluting fuels, used primarily over open fires or basic stoves, create severe health risks and contribute significantly to environmental degradation. The urgent need for cleaner cooking methods has prompted the Department of Electricity and Energy to launch a landmark legacy project, in line with the G20 Clean Cooking Outcome, to accelerate investment and adoption of clean cooking technologies throughout Africa.
This article explores the initiative’s background, the current challenges faced by millions of African households, the impact of harmful cooking fuels on health and the environment, and the government’s strategy to foster a sustainable energy transition. Through detailed analysis and firsthand accounts, it sheds light on the importance of clean cooking as a cornerstone for Africa’s energy future.
The Persistent Challenge of Polluting Cooking Fuels in Africa
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), approximately 80% of families across Africa still depend on polluting fuels such as wood, charcoal, and dung for cooking. These fuels are typically burned on open fires or rudimentary stoves, leading to the release of harmful toxins and indoor air pollution. This pollution is not only a threat to the environment but also a serious public health hazard.
Each year, household air pollution causes an estimated 800,000 premature deaths across Africa, disproportionately affecting women and children. Women, who traditionally bear the responsibility of cooking, are exposed to smoke and toxins for several hours daily, leading to respiratory diseases, eye problems, and other chronic health issues. Children, often present in the cooking areas, also suffer from these dangerous conditions.
Personal Stories from the Ground: Life Without Electricity
Matsatseng Village, located 30 kilometers from Mahikeng in South Africa, stands as a stark example of the daily realities faced by many African communities. Despite its long existence, the village still lacks access to electricity, forcing residents to rely on open fires for cooking and heating.
Karlina Nabe, a lifelong resident of Matsatseng, recounts her experience growing up using traditional cooking methods. “We survive by living like in the olden days,” she says. “We need better ways of cooking. We need government to help us with electricity. We can’t grow up and die using these methods of cooking.”
Karlina describes the health impact firsthand: “I used to have great eyesight, but now my eyes are always itching. I can’t even see when I write.” Her story highlights the urgent need for intervention to provide cleaner and safer cooking solutions.
The Department of Electricity and Energy’s Role in the Energy Transition
In response to these critical challenges, the Department of Electricity and Energy has prioritized clean cooking within its Energy Transition working group. The group recently convened its third technical meeting in Sun City, where discussions focused on the implementation of Just Energy Transition programs. These programs aim to address the social and economic dimensions of shifting toward sustainable energy sources.
Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré emphasized the growing difficulties faced by households due to rising electricity costs. “People now have to make choices: do I buy food, or do I buy electricity?” she explains. “With that happening, they resort to alternative cooking methods that create harmful environments, especially for women and children.”
The department’s clean cooking initiative aims not only to increase access to electricity but also to develop affordable alternatives for those who cannot yet connect to the grid. By doing so, the program hopes to reduce the health burden caused by traditional cooking fuels while advancing the continent’s energy sustainability goals.
Why Clean Cooking Matters: Health, Environment, and Social Impact
The significance of clean cooking goes beyond convenience or modernity; it is a matter of life and death for millions. Indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fuels is a leading cause of respiratory illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and pneumonia. Children under five and women of reproductive age are particularly vulnerable.
Environmentally, the widespread use of biomass fuels contributes to deforestation and increased greenhouse gas emissions. These impacts exacerbate climate change and reduce biodiversity, threatening the long-term sustainability of natural resources essential for rural livelihoods.
Socially, the burden of collecting firewood and cooking on open fires consumes substantial time and effort, disproportionately affecting women and girls. This limits their opportunities for education and economic participation, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Innovative Clean Cooking Technologies and Approaches
Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires a range of technological and policy solutions. Clean cooking initiatives typically promote:
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): A cleaner-burning fuel that reduces smoke emissions and improves cooking efficiency.
- Electric Stoves: Especially where reliable electricity is available, electric cooking appliances offer a safe alternative.
- Improved Biomass Stoves: These stoves burn wood or charcoal more efficiently and with fewer emissions than traditional open fires.
- Solar Cookers: Harnessing renewable solar energy, these devices offer a sustainable cooking option in sunny regions.
- Biogas Systems: Utilizing organic waste to produce methane gas, biogas can power cooking stoves with minimal pollution.
Investment in these technologies, combined with educational campaigns and subsidies for low-income families, can dramatically improve adoption rates and outcomes.
The G20 Clean Cooking Outcome and Africa’s Energy Goals
The G20 Clean Cooking Outcome represents an international commitment to promote clean cooking solutions worldwide, recognizing the crucial role they play in health, environmental sustainability, and gender equality. Aligning with this global framework, the Department of Electricity and Energy’s new legacy project seeks to harness G20 support and resources to accelerate progress in Africa.
By integrating clean cooking within broader Just Energy Transition programs, the project emphasizes equity and social justice. It aims to ensure that the shift to sustainable energy benefits marginalized communities without imposing undue economic burdens.
Economic and Policy Considerations in Scaling Clean Cooking
For clean cooking projects to succeed at scale, coordinated policy frameworks and financing mechanisms are essential. Governments need to:
- Develop subsidies and incentives to lower upfront costs for clean cooking technologies.
- Strengthen infrastructure for reliable electricity supply.
- Encourage private sector investment and innovation.
- Implement regulations that promote cleaner fuels and appliances.
- Promote awareness campaigns on the health and environmental benefits of clean cooking.
Such policies must be backed by data-driven monitoring and evaluation to measure impact and inform improvements.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Despite clear benefits, significant challenges remain. Rural electrification in Africa is progressing, but coverage gaps persist. Many communities are isolated and face high costs to connect to national grids.
Moreover, cultural preferences and habits around cooking can slow adoption of new technologies. Behavioral change requires education and trust-building within communities.
On the opportunity side, Africa’s growing renewable energy sector presents avenues to power clean cooking with sustainable sources like solar and wind. Innovations in off-grid and mini-grid solutions can reach remote areas.
International partnerships, such as those fostered through the G20 framework, provide vital financial and technical support to overcome these obstacles.
Case Study: The Promise of Clean Cooking in South Africa
South Africa’s Department of Electricity and Energy project highlights how targeted interventions can make a difference. By combining investments in energy infrastructure, stove subsidies, and community engagement, the project aims to transition households away from hazardous fuels.
As Deputy Minister Graham-Maré noted, the focus includes finding alternatives that are affordable even when electricity prices rise. This pragmatic approach acknowledges economic realities while prioritizing health and environmental outcomes.
Conclusion: Towards a Healthier, Cleaner Energy Future for Africa
The launch of the Department of Electricity and Energy’s legacy project aligned with the G20 Clean Cooking Outcome marks a significant milestone in Africa’s journey toward sustainable and equitable energy access. By addressing the persistent reliance on polluting cooking fuels, this initiative promises to save lives, protect the environment, and empower millions, especially women and children.
Achieving these goals requires sustained commitment from governments, international partners, and communities themselves. The pathway to clean cooking is not only a matter of technology but also of social justice and economic inclusion.
For more information on global clean cooking efforts and innovations, the International Energy Agency offers extensive resources and data that further underline the urgency and potential of this cause: International Energy Agency – Clean Cooking.
