Description
Project Name: South Kivu
Project Owner: POWA
Standard: Verra VCS
Project ID: 2636
Launched in 2020, the POWA Improved Cookstoves Program is transforming how households in the Democratic Republic of Congo cook their meals. By introducing highly efficient cookstoves, POWA helps housholds to slash woodfuel consumption, curb deforestation, and significantly reduce harmful CO2 emissions.
By reducing the need for woodfuel, these stoves free up household budgets, allowing families to invest in more diverse and nutritious food, strengthening food security. Plus, they protect users from toxic smoke, creating safer and healthier cooking environments. Thanks to these new stoves, families save money, breathe easier—all while contributing to a greener planet.
Proudly produced in Bujumbura, the DRC’s vibrant capital, these cookstoves are crafted by POWA, a dynamic private company founded by the visionaries behind OBEN. Operating from a sprawling 6-hectare production facility, POWA’s dedicated stove-making lines ensure top-quality craftsmanship. Supported by a robust fleet of 14 vehicles, the company’s seamless supply chain delivers these life-changing stoves to households far and wide, making sustainability accessible to all.
The stoves are produced locally in Bujumbura (capital city) by POWA, a private company founded by the creators of OBEN. Its production facility, sprawled across a 6-hectare site in Bujumbura, operates three dedicated stove-making lines. To ensure smooth distribution, the company maintains a fleet of 14 vehicles for supply chain operations and delivery logistics, supporting the project’s reach across the region.
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Impacts
Congo houses half of the African forest and is loosing more than 400,000 ha of trees per year
The project avoids deforestation
Traditional stoves uses a lot of wood fire to produce heat and cook the meals
The new stoves reduces by 50% the consumption of wood fire.
Traditional stoves (open fire three stone) makes difficult to control the fire and increases the risks of fires hazard
The new stoves reduces all of these risks with a new design making it more user friendly and safe to use
Traditional stoves produce harmful smokes
The project reduces indoor air pollution and related risk to respiratory diseases.
CSR Actions
OBEN started a tree nursery to seed trees for replanting. To date, 300 hectares have been replanted.
OBEN invests in the «energy efficiency school program » for wich efficient stoves are installed in schools thus reducing the children budget for lunch.
OBEN is a labor intensive NGO providing jobs to 350 people. Each employee follows a four weeks annual trainee program.
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