Production and distribution of clean energy cooking stoves, Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world, with approximately 198 million people (Punch 2018). Despite decreasing fertility, Nigeria’s population is expected to grow to 239 million by 2025 and 440 million by 2050 (Etebong 2018). Over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s estimated 198 million inhabitants still rely on fuelwood for cooking and heating (Nigeria Cleancooking 2018). This mirrors extreme dependence on fuelwood in the rest of Africa, causing indoor pollution to run amok. Indoor air pollution caused by solid fuel use and/or traditional cooking stoves adversely affects the health of nine out of ten Africans (Mbatchou et al. 2015).
Because of IAP’s impact on health and mortality, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have adopted strategies for reducing its environmental and health impacts; subsidizing cleaner fuel technologies, making improved cooking stoves available at affordable prices, providing electric stoves in areas with high electricity levels (Duflo et al. 2007).
The involvement of youth in the procurement and distribution of clean cooking stoves can be a path to economic empowerment. The use of efficient and clean cooking stoves saves lives, improves livelihood, empowers communities and contributes to combatting climate change. Clean cooking stoves inject speedy relief into the society, economy, and environment, even as they realize many SDGs and implement Agenda 2063.
Producing and selling clean cooking stoves also creates jobs together with apprenticeship and entrepreneurship opportunities. For example, during implementation of the UNDP/Eco-Bank funded Eco-Stove project in Nigeria, some youth were gainfully employed for six months to work on the project (Kirk et al. 2006). Although six months does not constitute a sustainable livelihood, such an approach can be up-scaled with a focus on the resultant entrepreneurship.
The International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED) with funding from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has established three fuel-efficient cooking stove production and training centres in Borno State, Nigeria. The centres have trained 100 people across the state on the technical and business aspects of fuel-efficient cooking stoves production (FAO 2018). Youth were among the beneficiaries. However, stagnated investment has resulted in slow expansion of this sector (Clean Cooking Alliance 2019).
Technologies such as co-generation, biogas, and liquid biofuels are capable of delivering affordable and locally-available energy, thus creating jobs locally. Moreover, the conversion of existing plants to burn biofuels through co-firing would lead to energy generation efficiency and reductions in CO2
emissions. 2.3.1 The economic rewards of off-grid electricity
Electricity supply remains a major global problem with 1,200 million people still lacking access to electricity (Bhattacharyya et al. 2016). Off- grid electricity has emerged as a viable solution and demonstrated job- creation potential. Energy created through solar PV cells, landfill gas and biomass plants, creates more jobs per unit of energy than energy created from fossil fuels (UNEP 2008). These jobs can easily exceed 20 million by 2030 (UNEP 2008).
The additional jobs created by off-grid electricity result from longer and more diverse supply chains, higher labour intensity, and increased net profit margins. Jobs in renewable energy can be created along the sector’s value chain. These jobs can be created in the production
of inputs like tools and chemicals; manufacture and distribution of equipment; or services that include project management, installation, operation, and maintenance.
In this regard, regional cooperation between institutions of higher learning may be helpful in increasing youth mobility, learning experience, and knowledge exchange to better prepare them for these employment opportunities. Furthermore, cooperation between universities and the private sector is needed to support innovation and entrepreneurship hubs for young people. Employment agencies should also create a job mobility scheme to help youth locate employment, traineeship, or apprenticeship opportunities (Antonio 2015).
One of the ways in which youth can tap into the economic rewards of off- grid electricity is through the training opportunities provided by energy stakeholders. Such training can empower young entrepreneurs to start businesses in the renewable energy sector. In addition, local governments can implement policies that spur job creation and improve the employability through, for example, skills development (Baah-Boateng 2016).
21
A Breath of Fresh Air
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
