[Stoves] K Smith Article in Energy for Sustainable Development

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Boston

 

You are of course quite right. There was no decision. Years and years of
trying have shown that people will not buy a $10 stove in most African
countries because it is too expensive. So..people came up with the idea of a
$5 stove, like a good 5 cent cigar it is what people were supposed to want.

 

It is hard to make a JIKO for less than $10 because of the metal cost. That
is why the POCA in Maputo is made from ceramic. An All ceramic stove has the
possibility of being cheap and strong and long lasting. While most ceramic
stoves do not last long, or are not good enough to get hot enough to not
last long, if you get my drift, it is technically possible to have the best
of both worlds, but not in metal.

 

In reality people will buy a much more expensive stove than $10 but it has
to be very attractive and effective. Most stoves chattered about here are
prototypes, not commercial products. Commercial success is also elusive even
if the product is good.

 

The stove has to fit the intended market niche. You are correct: there is no
universal stove or universal price.

 

Regards

Crispin

 

 

All,

 

In the column, Dr. Smith does not reference his $10 price-limit.  I have
heard this value several times and no one seems to know why $10 was deemed
appropriate.  I've been digging and cannot find the source of this
"decision".  Does anyone have further information?  In my opinion, its
extremely naive to cast a blanket price for all hh stoves around the world.

 

Cheers,

Boston Nyer

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