Dear Stovers (and a few friends who might find this summary interesting).
On 10/23/2012 11:38 AM, Crispin Pemberton-Pigott wrote:
Why do you think the Peko Pe is not in (mass) production in Uganda? Is it not a low cost and effective stove?
Dear Stovers,
Honestly, I do not ask Crispin or others to ask such questions, but I thank him for this great opening.
The reply is not just about the Peko Pe, but about TLUD gasifier stoves in general. And the overall response is “the lack of any substantial backing.” But here are some details.
The largest TLUD mass production thus far has been the Oorja stove in India. Forced air, pellet fuel, and massive expenditures by BP. 400,000 units as of a 2009 when BP pulled out and the business was re-organized as First Energy. I suggest Stovers see their website: www.firstenergy.in New design (not sure when it came to the market). Go to the “About” tab (then “Overview”) on the menu. And also see the About/Team tab for info about Mahesh Yagnaraman. I met him in Delhi a few years back. Very capable. I remember that his background was (is) in the production of automobile parts in Pune. Solid business connections in metal fabrication is clearly a key to making mass produced TLUD stoves. I hope that he and First Energy are represented at the GACC Forum in Cambodia next March, including demonstrating the Oorja for commercial kitchens (nice product).
Another corporate push to mass production is just beginning to be seen. Philips has produced a natural draft TLUD stove. (I do not consider the Philips forced-air unit to be a TLUD. It is a “fan-jet” stove with enhanced turbulence like the forced air Lucia by Worldstove, and the Ecococina from El Salvador, and now the Biolite stoves with TEG technology, but that is a different discussion.) Going into production in Lesotho, I believe. But not with the Philips name on it.
Summary thus far, big business with big money can give you mass production when the bosses decide to do it.
There are a few other TLUDs made with “industrial quality” where mass production would be a matter of having larger markets to keep the machines and workers busy.
The Reed Woodgas Campstoves are “mass produced” in India and sold mainly to recreational campers in affluent societies. I think it has passed 5000 (maybe 10,000) units sold.
The Nurhuda stoves in Indonesia are well into the thousands and are true TLUDs. We just need more information.
And the Servals “Champion” TLUD is well known, but does not have yet the financial backing or large orders to push it into “mass” production.
Oh, and in China the Daxu company had a TLUD reported to have had 25,000 made, but I believe that stopped when the heavy subsidy stopped.
NOTE: If I have left anybody out, it is because your information has not reached me. If you are out there and with mass production of a TLUD stove, let us hear from you.
All the rest are small to tiny operations. A few thousands of units.
So why no mass production of the Peko Pe? Do people think that Paal Wendlebo is a wealthy man or in control of a company to pay the bills? There is some action about Peko Pe in Zambia and maybe elsewhere. But I do not have sufficient information to make much of a report on it.
There is also the recently completed World Bank BEIA project for the Mwoto TLUD stove in Uganda. (see www.mwotostove.com ) About 2500 TLUDs in the “Mwoto Classic” design have been produced with 100% tinsmith labor. The BEIA project showed that sufficient and accepting markets for the Mwoto stoves exist in Uganda. Production was not able to meet fully the demand created in this pilot study.
As an offshoot of the BEIA project, I am personally involved in a start-up company called Awamu Biomass Energy (ABE) in Uganda, with the “Mwoto Quad” as its first product. (A report of test results on the Quad stove is available at my website: www.drtlud.com ). It has the TLUD operational characteristics and dimensions of the Mwoto Classic, but is designed for mass production via labor intensive processes, not machine-made. But we are just starting (following the end of the BEIA project). Please stay tuned, or (better yet) please volunteer to assist.
End note: I have great hopes that the GACC Forum in Cambodia (March 2013) will include a wonderful and the largest ever gathering of people who are working on the TLUD micro-gasifier cookstoves.
Paul
Paul S. Anderson, PhD aka "Dr TLUD" Email: psanders@ilstu.edu Skype: paultlud Phone: +1-309-452-7072 Website: www.drtlud.com
Dear Paul,
This is just to let you know what is happening around Peko Pe stove in Zambia. Paal Wendelbo introduced it to Project OSCAR C. S. S. Zambia in March 2009 in Kasama.
For the last couple of years we conducted many workshops regarding Agroforestry, Climate Change and the impact on the food security etc. People were reluctant, but with time more and more got interested in the principle of the stove and the benefits.
Production of the stove is increasing with more community groups getting interested.
OSCAR (Organic Solutions for Conservation and Agricultural Results) team has just finished 2 Trainings on the Peko Pe Stove and Entrepreneurship successfully.
This training was done in the vision that deforestation and climate change can be slowed down. the response from the public is good.
Without much explanation stoves were given to some individuals for trial. the only instruction was what fuel to use, how to fill and ignite it. The praise was great.
The organisation believes that training villagers and other vulnerable persons in society on the production of the Peko Pe stove in combination with Entrepreneurship skills, will have various positive results.
Training youths, villagers and persons with disabilities we can curb poverty over a period of time.
Charcoal burners and traders are encouraged and get trained in the growing of energy forest and the processing of fuel for the stove.
Air pollution can be reduces dramatically as people are in the process of learning the benefits of growing trees instead of cutting them down for firewood.
The training program at Disacare Wheelchair Center in Lusaka and the one in Maluza Village, Mwembeshi Sattelite Area have proved a change in the mindset of people. They acquired skills for income generation, saving on costs for household energy, reduce risks to the health of their family and more.
It would be appreciated if you and all other stovers could reinforce our efforts to improve lives of the less privileged by supporting OSCAR’s efforts in any possible way.
Regards Edeltraud Baker,
Co-Founder and Country Coordinator
Project OSCAR Community Service Society Zambia
P. O. Box 410150
Kasama
Zambia
Central Africa
Website: http://projectoscarinzambia.weebly.com