Ethanol as a household fuel in Madagascar
Practical Action
Promoting ethanol as a household fuel
The project examined lessons from African experience with improved stove and fuel programmes,
looking at previous Initiatives to deliver household cooking interventions. They have included
switching to alternative fuels with associated new stoves, improving the efficiency of stoves,
technologies to extract harmful smoke, approaches to change the behaviour of cooks regarding the
manner or location of cooking, and replenishing stocks of woodfuel through re-afforestation.
The assessment was completed in order to provide the following institutional and policy
recommendations for a program to promote the development of a commercial market for ethanol
as a household fuel in both Madagascar and on a wider scale:
Fuel options
LPG and electricity are currently the cleanest fuels in the kitchen widely available globally.
Neither of these fuels appears to be viable for widespread dissemination in Madagascar at
the present time because of their high capital and running costs.
Woodfuel is the most widely used fuel worldwide, and cooks quickly, but is highly polluting,
and reduces the quality of life for many users.
Charcoal is cleaner than woodfuel, but is a highly inefficient process.
Stove options
For stoves to be adopted on a fully commercial basis, it is essential that people like the
stoves and will want to use them, and replace them when necessary. To be used, stoves must
have the product attributes desired by cooks; the stove quality must be good, and the fuel
consistent. There must be a reliable fuel supply chain or people will revert to their previous
practices.
Semi-commercial opportunities exist within a limited time frame where the stoves are either
given away, or sold below cost, but nevertheless have the support of NGOs, or governments.
This arrangement can be very successful, and appears to be a useful interim step to
complete commercialisation, distribution and long-term sustainability.
A well-proven NGO structure is used by the NGO Vita EnterpriseWorks for the Gyapa stoves.
These stoves are sold by independent businesses, but the NGO provides support to the new
businesses with training and promotion. The Ugastove benefits from carbon finance to
subsidise its cost and make it affordable.
Role of government & private sector
The Government has an essential role to play in the development of a biofuel strategy and
policy conducive to the use of such fuels in household energy provision, including the
establishment of standards for ethanol fuel quality, as well as stove safety and efficiency. In
the case of ethanol, Government support to overcome initial barriers to adoption, including
through support for demonstration pilots and access to credit.
A further role for Government is in facilitating partnerships between government bodies, the
private sector and NGOs. Governments can create an enabling environment for private sector
investment through addressing major barriers such as a lack of clarity of regulations and
legislation, lack of security of investments, prohibitive investment costs and duties.
The private sector has an essential role to play in applying commercial and marketing
approaches to the various social, environmental and public health issues implicit in
household energy and clean fuels.
Products need to be thoroughly tested and reviewed by a representative sample of
consumers, feedback obtained in a structured way, and issues identified, addressed and re-
piloted, until a desirable product is developed.
The majority of household energy programs have involved NGO participation at their
inception. NGOs can play a key role in undertaking pilot programs and demonstration
projects. They can work with other actors in facilitation, supporting services, sector co-
ordination, advocacy, piloting, linkage with community groups, and demonstrating safe
practices.
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