regional wood energy development programme in asia ... - CES (IISc)

6 WOODFUEL END-USER GROUPS
Woodfuels are used extensively by both the domestic and industrial sectors. However, there
have been substantial changes in the past, due to the shift in the availability of other fuels. Before
1970, when kerosene was available both in urban and rural areas, the government through the
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), introduced the kerosene stove which was widely used
because of its low cost and convenience. However, in the mid-seventies, kerosene supplies
became unavailable and the kerosene stove had to be abandoned. Later, the government tried to
introduce gas stoves but, again because of the supply problem, the fuel could not be relied upon
for daily use. At present, both domestic and cottage industries depend largely on biomass energy,
especially woodfuel in the form of fuelwood, bamboo fuel and charcoal. In urban centres where
electricity is available, electric stoves are also used. But due to the erratic electricity supply these
cannot be relied upon.
Many of the government departments concerned with energy, such as the industry,
agriculture, rural development, energy, and forestry departments etc. are now taking a very keen
interest in introducing fuel efficient biomass burning stoves and furnaces. However, only a limited
number of these improved devices have been in actual use or made available on a commercial
basis; the rest are largely still in the research and development stages.
6.1 Domestic and Institutional Users
Most people in rural areas still use threestone
fires for cooking. Although the thermal
efficiency of these fires is low (in the order of only 10-
15%) compared with the total energy delivered by the
fuel, there are a number of additional benefits
associated with their use: part of the heat and/or
smoke emitted can be used for the preservation of
food and roof structures, as a mosquito repellent,
and often for warmth in colder areas. Attempts at
introducing improved domestic fuelwood and residue
burning cookstoves, therefore, have been made by a
number of organizations.
The Forest Department through the Forest
Research Institute (FRI) based in Yezin developed a
firewood saving stove during 1986-7, locally known
as "one stick stove". A number of stoves using this
design was produced and sold on a pilot basis for 50
kyats. While the fuelwood saving feature was amply
demonstrated, the local stove producers did not
desire to produce the new designs commercially due
to the complicated production steps and its heavy
weight.
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Figure 6.1 One stick stove in
a kitchen of FRI worker