Finnish Turbo Stoves in Ethiopia

Melessaw Shanko January 10, 2002

Dear Stovers,

I have been quiet so far despite I'm list member and very active player in improved biomass stoves in East Africa. The recent growing interest in and numerous postings on the Finnish Turbo stoves have forced me to break the silence and share the following with you.

Background: TS were developed in Finland in mid 90's by a Finnish forester, who had lived worked as a forester in eastern Africa (Kenya and the Sudan). By virtue of living in that part of the world, it seems that he had hadthe chance to see and appreciate the wood energy 'crisis' (enormous end-use inefficiencies) in domestic cooking and humanitarian crises settings such as refugee crises that characterize Eastern Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, ... etc). When the Tapio Niemi, the inventor, got back home, he developed the TS and tested for its fuel efficiency. Under Northern camping conditions reported thermal efficiency of the stove was 25% to 30%. There was a need for field-testing of the TS in a real world situation in African continent. Financial support was obtained from Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cover the costs of the field-test. WFP Ethiopia was chosen as an implementing agency for it was involved both in supporting Sudanese refugees in the western camps and School feeding Programme that covered over 600 elementary schools in Ethiopia.

Further Lab Tests: MGP Ltd. a local company, delivered consultancy services and reesults are as follows: A series of lab tests were carried out to verify the reported thermal efficiency and 17% to 22% efficiencies were obtained. The tests included two local models. For details see Water Bioling Test Results attached.

Field-test: The TS along with locally made institutional stove was field tested in a refugee camp households in and two school feeding centers. nofficial results suggest that TS for institutional cooking (school feeding centers) is a "no go" area, but it has considerable relevance for domestic cooking if it is locally produced using inexpensive local skills and materials. Currently a stakeholders workshop being organized to deliberate on results and strategize the way forward. I will keep you posted if there is any interest.

PS I remember communicating with Tom Reed on confusion created by the two TSs some time before.

Melessaw Shanko
MEGEN Power Ltd.
P.O. Box 20553 Code 1000
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Telephone/Fax: 251 - 1 - 613395
e-Mail: MGP@telecom.net.et
Mobile: 251 - 09 - 203097
http://mgp.energyprojects.net/