The Clean Cooking Crisis in Africa
Access to clean cooking energy remains a critical issue in Africa. Over 900 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa rely on biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, leading to devastating health, environmental, and economic consequences.
Health Consequences of Traditional Cooking Methods
600,000 deaths annually
in Sub-Saharan Africa are caused by indoor air pollution, mostly affecting women and children.
Household air pollution
is a leading cause of respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
Traditional cooking fuels
generate toxic smoke, making indoor air pollution worse than outdoor urban pollution.
The Economic Burden of Energy Poverty
is lost due to health costs and economic inefficiencies caused by polluting fuels.
Households using firewood spend on cooking fuel, limiting funds for healthcare, education, and business growth.
The African continent requires to achieve universal access to clean cooking, yet investments fall short.
Environmental Devastation from Traditional Fuels
Deforestation
In some African regions, over 50% of deforestation is caused by firewood collection for cooking.
Climate Change
The use of biomass fuels contributes hundreds of millions of tons of CO₂ emissions annually, worsening global warming.
Barriers to Clean Cooking Adoption
Despite the benefits of clean cooking, several barriers prevent widespread adoption:
Clean fuels like bioethanol and LPG remain unaffordable for many low-income households.
Limited distribution networks make it difficult to access clean cooking fuels in rural areas.
Many communities still prefer traditional cooking methods due to familiarity and taste preferences.
Women, who are most affected by dirty cooking fuels, often lack financial independence to invest in cleaner alternatives.
The Urgent Need for Action
Solving the clean cooking crisis requires collaboration.
Tangram Energy is at the forefront of driving this change through affordable solutions, awareness campaigns, and scalable models.
