In Rwanda, around 40% of the country’s air pollution comes from traditional cooking using solid fuels like charcoal. It also causes severe health issues among women and children. That is not necessary because there are good alternatives available. Using pellets as a cooking fuel is cleaner, faster, and more affordable than charcoal. To encourage the transition to this cleaner cooking fuel, several organisations have teamed up to set up a value chain.

Pellet cooking is almost as clean as Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). But pellets are cheaper, less risky, and have no upfront costs. Pellets can be produced locally, creating jobs. They also contribute to the circular economy as they are made from forestry and agricultural waste. With LPG, you need an LPG stove and a tank to store the fuel.

Partners in Pellets

To encourage the transition to pellets, several organisations have teamed up to create an Impact Cluster: Partners in Pellets.

“We believe that our PAYGO fuel + stove combination is the least-cost, best-fit solution for the masses in urban Rwanda and beyond. It is a truly clean, affordable, sustainable, reliable and modern energy cooking solution.”

This cluster aims to demonstrate the full potential of pellet-based cooking in Rwanda and beyond. It is doing this by setting up a pellet fuel ecosystem. This involves sharing knowledge with local stakeholders and identifying and establishing financial tools to help the ecosystem grow. Examples of financial tools include carbon credits and prefinancing.

Project partners

The Impact Cluster is a partnership between Bix Capital, FairClimateFund, Mimi Moto, BioMassters, and TRAIDE. Together they will create a complete value chain and pellet fuel ecosystem. Each partner has a specific role:

• BioMassters will lead pellet production, operate pellet demonstration sites, organise training sessions and contribute to the expansion of the pellet sector.
• Mimi Moto has developed an advanced biomass stove for pellet fuel. Mimi Moto will distribute 820 stoves in a pilot project. It will also contribute to clean cooking awareness among the Rwandan population.
• FairClimateFund will lead the development of a carbon methodology based on the gold standard. It will also provide training sessions on carbon credits for companies active in the pellet ecosystem.
• BIX Capital will lead a prefinancing module. It will support the cluster and the wider ecosystem in applying for prefinancing. BIX will organise and lead training sessions on access to finance for entrepreneurs in Rwanda.
• TRAIDE will carry out project management, communication, logistics and monitoring and evaluation.