Cleaner cooking offers families charcoal alternative

Malawian families could soon reduce their dependence on charcoal as a clean cooking initiative gathers momentum.

The initiative, led by PressCane Limited, is promoting ethanol cooking stoves and fuel as a locally produced alternative to charcoal and other conventional cooking fuels, with the aim of reducing deforestation and harmful emissions.

The clean cooking solution is already gaining traction across the country, with at least 566 households adopting the product and more than 12,000 litres of ethanol sold, signalling growing interest in cleaner sources of household energy.

Minister of Natural Resources Patricia Wiskes has commended the initiative, describing it as a significant step towards protecting the country’s forests, promoting clean energy and reducing pressure on foreign exchange through the use of locally produced ethanol.

Speaking after touring PressCane’s operations in Chikwawa on Tuesday, Wiskes said the initiative demonstrates how local innovation can contribute to environmental conservation and economic growth.

“What we have witnessed during our visit is that PressCane is doing remarkable work as it is providing households with ethanol for cooking. With the local production of ethanol in Malawi, produced and distributed here, things are much easier for the country.

“The product is also being exported outside the country, helping us to generate foreign exchange. The good thing is that ethanol has much higher acceptability among community members than LPG,” she said.

She added that the initiative is also creating employment opportunities for graduates and young people, helping strengthen the economy while advancing environmental protection.

PressCane Chief Executive Officer Bryson Mkhomaanthu said the company developed the ethanol cooking solution to accelerate Malawi’s transition to clean cooking by encouraging households to abandon charcoal.

“We have developed the product, and it is on the market. We are targeting people who are currently using charcoal because we ultimately want them to stop so that we protect our forests and create a healthy environment,” he said.

Mkhomaanthu said the project is being implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Economic Transition Facility (GETF), which provided half of the project’s funding.

He added that PressCane is working with Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) in Zomba to empower young people and women through product distribution and entrepreneurship opportunities.

UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost praised the partnership between the government and the private sector, saying expanding clean cooking solutions is critical to protecting Malawi’s forests and safeguarding livelihoods.

“As UNDP, we are excited that the government is very committed to this area. Charcoal is a huge detriment to the country. We know that the environment, the agriculture sector and the well-being of the people of Malawi rely on the country’s forests. Once lost, those cannot be reclaimed. This is a matter of national urgency,” she said.