Entrepreneur develops stove for renewable energy

MBOMBELA – A local educational entrepreneur has developed a catalyst stove model that supports growing environmental education and supplies cleaner, cost-saving energy.

The Mashesha stove uses wood but users can substitute that by making cardboard balls that are dried, soaked and compressed for a fuel-source replacement. This can roughly save 56 per cent energy.

According to Ms Louise Williamson, her product is specifically aimed at rural communities and schools that use wood on a daily basis to cook for pupils under the national nutritional programme.

The model has won the African Energy Award in the innovation category in 2015 and was commended for its efficient use as a renewable energy.

The awards recognise and reward industry innovation and outstanding performance, and honour the top energy projects and influencers throughout Africa.

The prize also created an opportunity for five young girls Williamson was working with to further their studies.

“The five primary schools I worked with on the project have each been awarded R22 000. The money has been paid into their flexi-fixed deposit accounts, to mature after some time, to help fund their tertiary education,” Williamson said.

The model’s development has also ensured employment opportunities for people in rural communities.

“Because most of our intended clientele are rural schools and businesses, we offer commission to volunteers, this is based on the stoves sold to the schools,” she added.

White River Rotary, York Timbers and Sappi have already bought the model stoves for their schools and teachers also bought some for their own use.

Williamson added that the model was also aimed at creating a safe environment for those cooking on exposed fires.

“When I visited schools in our local communities I was touched by the environment in which the cooks work, I could see old women cooking in the heat with smoke from the fire,” she said.

“My goal is to try and get companies to help buy the stoves for rural schools as part of their CSIR projects.

“I designed the stove to specifically address the energy inefficiency and unhealthy circumstances the rural schools are faced with daily, while cooking for schoolchildren in the nutritional programme, still using firewood,” Williamson added.