STARIC-N

GATLANG VILLAGE , Rasuwa, NEPAL: Me, My Children and the Killer SMOKE
Pawan Shrestha, Nepal November 3, 2006

Dear All,

Thank you for your time in reviewing our Attachment. Please Check the Attachment about the killer smoke in a remote village of Nepal.

Gatlang Village

Installation of Improved Metal Cooking Stoves in the Khumbu Region: Field Visit Reports (3)
Sustainable Technology Adaptive Research and Implementation Center, Nepal Sjoerd Nienhuys, SNV-Nepal January 2005

Khumbu Metal Stoves

Attached reports:
(1 of 3)
(2 of 3)
(3 of 3)

1. BACKGROUND
   The majority of people in Nepal live in rural areas (88%). From the total energy requirements of
   the country, the rural areas account for 80%, mainly used for cooking. Almost all rural energy
   consumption (98%) is from traditional biomass resources, such as fuel wood, agricultural residues
   and animal dung. Accessibility to the electric grid by rural people is very limited, while LPG gas
   and kerosene oil in the high altitude and remote areas is relatively costly due to the high cost of
   transport. Therefore, people living in remote areas depend heavily on forest resources to meet
   their demand for cooking energy.

In high altitude areas fuel wood is needed for cooking and space heating; the amount increasing
with the altitude and colder temperatures. This results in continuous forest degradation, nutrient
depletion from soils (by burning agro waste and cow dung), low agricultural outputs and soil
erosion. Together, these aspects result in a further reduction of accessibility to fuel wood.
Especially in high altitude areas, WWF-NP seeks methods to reduce the overall demand of
firewood and stimulates activities such as the development of better, more efficient cooking
stoves. Other energy conserving measurements include: thermal insulation of buildings, passive
solar energy for houses and the development of greenhouses and biogas reactors for high
altitudes. The Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV-Nepal), in conjunction with the
Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), is supporting the current programme of WWF-NP
with STARIC-N in the development and dissemination of efficient cooking stoves for high
altitudes.

Two types of cooking stoves are currently being considered:
• An all-metal stove with two cooking holes and the possibility of a water heater.
• An elevated mud stove (lower cost, less heat radiation), also with a water heater.

Both stoves have chimneys. The present report is dealing with the all-metal cooking stove.
The first model of the all-metal cooking stove has a two-hole top with a sunken pot design and is
based on the “rocket” or elbow principle, improving the efficiency in two ways: by improved
convection (sunken pot) and improved combustion through aeration from below (elbow). In
addition, the lightweight stainless steel burning chamber is insulated, creating a hotter flame and
better gas combustion, also increasing the efficiency.

This design is currently being field tested to assess its acceptability by the villagers. The
additional water heating facility will be developed after acceptance of the basic stove design.
Variations of the stove (three holes) can be developed at a later stage.

See attached reports.

Cooking Stove Improvements: Design for Remote High Altitude Areas Dolpa Region Nepal, Sjoerd Nienhuys April 2005

ABSTRACT
Metal and mud cooking stoves are analysed in Dolpa, a remote high altitude district in Nepal (over 2000m) where poor firewood efficiency of cooking stoves has been observed whilst the area is already largely deforested. Current metal or mud stoves have the air-intake above the firewood, lowering gas temperatures and causing incomplete combustion. More than 20 improvement options are presented in a table. These lead to higher burning temperatures, reduced firewood consumption and lesser soot development. Modifications have been made to lower manufacturing costs. The paper briefly explains the principles of the improvements and provides detailed sketches of the solutions. Improved cooking efficiency requires chopping of the firewood into
small pieces, but the additional time spent is balanced against the considerably less time spent in the collection of firewood. The prototype stove has been field-tested and modified several times to produce a model that is easy to manufacture and is acceptable to the villagers.

Information is based on the author’s personal experience and technical information from the stoves discussion group at www.stoves.bioenergylists.org