Eni has pledged to distribute improved cookstoves to 10 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2027, with a goal of reaching 20 million people by 2030 with advanced cooking solutions.
This comes as part of the Clean Cooking Summit organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA) taking place in Paris.
Eni has endorsed the “Clean Cooking Declaration: Making 2024 the pivotal year for Clean Cooking” to accelerate universal access to more modern cooking systems, essential to ensure access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all, as established by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7.
The declaration was signed by governments, the private sector, international organizations, and civil society who attended the Summit.
According to IEA, around 1 billion people in Africa still rely on rudimentary cooking systems, which release noxious smoke and contribute to 3.7 million premature deaths each year. Eni recognizes the significant health, social, economic, and environmental impacts of this issue, especially for women and children.
Accordingly, Eni intends to encourage the transition from improved solutions, which guarantee a reduction of over 60% in woody biomass, to advanced solutions, which are characterized by the total reduction of use of unsustainable woody biomass. Following this evolution, Eni sets its this initiative expected to cost around $300 million.
In 2018, Eni launched a Clean Cooking program that has already reached around 500,000 people in Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Angola.
Eni’s model is that the cookstoves are distributed free of charge, overcoming any financial barrier.
“Eni supports the local production of cooking systems, by evaluating the potential of producers and contributing to strengthening their technical and entrepreneurial skills, facilitating access to technology, capital and the market,” the Italian company said in a press release.
“Finally, the distribution of the stoves takes place through local and international organizations already present in the areas, which guarantee correct interaction with families and raise their awareness of the benefits of clean cooking systems,” Eni added.
Eni’s distribution of improved cookstoves is certified by the Clean Cooking Alliance, allowing the company to generate carbon credits. These credits are used in line with Eni’s Net-Zero strategy, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through emission reduction and high-quality carbon offset initiatives.
