[Stoves] Improved charcoal cookstoves in Dubai and UAE

[Nikhil Desai]

Teddy:

What is the problem?  Seems Somalia charcoal exports are much bigger than
domestic market for it. As with the Gulf states and Iran oil and gas
production.

I see the UN claims " But with increased demands for charcoal, the Acacia
bussei is becoming an impractical source of fodder.  "

No evidence is offered.   The danger to pastoralists - and to charcoalers
as well - is a severe drought. See
https://www.unicef.org/somalia/reallives_19707.html.

It cites a single number from 1996 for northeast Somalia. Considering that
charcoal exports are said to be leaving mainly from Kismayu, way south, I
imagine the wood feedstock is from near Kismayu, including Kenya, not from
Puntland.

Managing livestock and human populations in deserts in periods of prolonged
droughts is a struggle; read the Old Testament. Nomads in search.

For jet-setting global nomads, UNDP is holding workshops and photo
opportunities under PROSCAL. See
http://mptf.undp.org/factsheet/project/00100442.

The AP story says, " an estimated three million bags of the commodity are
making their way out of the Horn of Africa country each year, the monitors
say in excerpts of a yet-unpublished report seen by The Associated Press."

 Which means that at least the charcoalers are finding enough acacia to
continue their activities sustainably.

Of course it is easy to demonize al Shabaab and the Iranian authorities,
but I don't see any evidence that this charcoal business cannot continue.
Besides, Somali charcoal is given certificate of origin from other
countries, a common practice to get around trade controls. See
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/calls-for-joint-efforts-to-end-illegal-trade-in-Somalia-charcoal/2560-4574414-9ttgpxz/index.html
.

Kenya Defense Forces may be complicit in the trade.
https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/KDF-fails-to-enforce-ban-on-Shabaab-charcoal-sale--UN-says/539546-4185672-gs1ru0/index.html
and
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/un-report-finds-kenya-still-funding-al-shabaab-terror-group-through-illegal-sugar-charcoal-trade-1590462
.

A recent (2017/8) Government of Somalia report says, " In addition,
charcoal production has gone up by 50 percent because of the drought, as a
subsistence livelihoods option to replace employment in farming and
livestock rearing activities. This has had the effect of desiccating over
90,000 hectares of forest and woodlands, significantly contributing to
aboveground biodiversity degradation, loss of soil flora and fauna and
acceleration of the process of desertification, "

It is only in the context of an overall livelihood restoration program that
the unsustainability of charcoal and acacia can be addressed; " Charcoal
production and the rehabilitation and management of rangeland must be
addressed if any degree of sustainability is to be built into the recovery
of the livestock sector."
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/901031516986381462/pdf/122991-v1-GSURR-Somalia-DINA-Report-Volume-I-180116-Digital.pdf

IFC has supported a woman-owned improved charcoal stove enterprise in
Garowe - see
https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/new+energy+-+somalias+women+are+determined+to+drive+business.
So, as the charcoal prices rise, Somalis would use it more efficiently.
Might even make it more efficiently and earn a higher price from the
importers.

Nikhil

 -------------------------------------------
Nikhil Desai
(US +1) 202 568 5831
*Skype: nikhildesai888*



On Sat, Oct 13, 2018 at 11:21 AM Cookswell Jikos <cookswelljikos at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Does anyone know of any organizations working to encourage the use of
> improving the efficiency of charcoal burning devices to reduce the
> consumption of charcoal in the UAE? Or any studies of the same? Who
> typically use's charcoal in places like Dubai, any non-BBQ or sheesha uses
> of it?
>
> It seems the supply chain from Somalia leaves much to be desired.
>
>
> https://africa.cgtn.com/2018/10/13/banned-somali-charcoal-exports-pass-through-iran-un-report/
>
>
> https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/how-somalias-charcoal-trade-fuelling-acacias-demise
>
>
> Any pointers in the right direction would be much appreciated :)
>
> Teddy Kinyanjui
> Sustainability Director
>
>
>
>              <https://www.facebook.com/CookswellJikos>
> <https://www.instagram.com/cookswelljikos>
> <https://twitter.com/cookswelljikos?lang=en>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.bioenergylists.org/pipermail/stoves_lists.bioenergylists.org/attachments/20181015/ceb71732/attachment.html>