Electricity and Control June 2024

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Ener-G-Africa opens new clean cookware factory

O n 9 May 2024, Ener-G-Africa officially launched its cookware manufacturing facility in Paarl, in the Western Cape, where it produces a range of clean burning fuel-efficient stoves and cookware and employs 100 people from the local community. The event was attended by the Drakenstein Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Stephen Korabie, as well as retailers, NGOs and community organisations. A panel discussion on clean and green cooking was led by the World Bioenergy Association President, Christian Rakos. “This launch reflects our vision to revolutionise cooking in Africa, making it cleaner, healthier, more affordable and better for the environment,” said André Moolman, CEO at Ener-G-Africa. “Cooking remains largely the unrecognised responsibility of women in Africa. Every day, millions of

Christian Rakos referred to the opening of the new factory as a landmark event for clean cooking in Africa. “Ener-G-Africa’s engagement will include building supply chains for a fuel that can revolutionise cooking in Africa – pelletised biomass coming from various types of agricultur al residues and fast-growing grasses. This modern fuel of fers a clean burning and affordable alternative to firewood and charcoal. The dedicated pellet cookstove built here has the potential to become a unique success story.” Ener-G-Africa’s clean cooking solutions extend to inno vations in the form of sustainable fuels, all aimed at com batting climate change and making universal access to clean cooking by 2030 achievable (SDG 7). Dave Lello, Chief Business Development Executive at Ener-G-Africa, added: “Our products are designed for clean cooking, which is healthier, and green cooking, which is better for the environment and more sustainable. Our stoves are safer to use and they are more fuel-efficient, which makes them more cost-effective.” Local manufacturing commitment The manufacturing plant is located in Berg River in the Drakenstein Municipality, contributing to job creation and stimulating the local economy. Built at a cost of US$1 mil lion, the 3 200 m 2 factory consolidates the company’s com mitment to local manufacturing. Products are distributed across South Africa and into other countries across the continent. All the products are currently available on the website. The plant uses 100% locally made stainless steel and is located near Ener-G-Africa’s other facility – a women-run solar manufacturing plant that is the second largest on the continent. Ener-G-Africa is a Proudly South African member, com mitted to an uplifting ethos that promotes social and eco nomic change and progress and to making a meaningful contribution to building South Africa’s economy and allevi ating unemployment. The company has invested in cutting-edge manufactur ing technology, including a 6 kW laser cutter and a 25 m long dishwasher for cleaning the finished cookware. The laser cutter provides high precision and accuracy, with an ‘auto coil’ feature that enables the machine to auto-feed and cut material, increasing efficiency in batch production and minimising material waste. Laser cutting also allows for flexibility in terms of cutting the different shapes and pat terns required to produce the full range of cookware. “As well as serving the needs of African women, our range is well suited to anyone who enjoys cooking outdoors, from camping enthusiasts to South Africans who love to sit around a fire together,” says Moolman. “Our stoves and cookware are fuel-efficient, easy-to-use, clean-burning and designed to bring the joy back into cooking.”

women across the continent have no option but to cook in unsafe conditions, using inefficient equipment. They spend hours collecting firewood for fuel, and cooking on unhealthy and often dangerous wood burning stoves. We are looking to change that by providing accessible, innovative and cost effective cookware that saves women time, money and fuel. We hope to help women reclaim their time, negate safety issues related to firewood collection and improve health outcomes by minimising exposure to harmful smoke. This can help to restore women’s dignity and boost their productivity.”

Ener-G-Africa aims to revolutionise cooking on the continent with clean-burning, fuel-efficient and affordable stoves and cookware.

For more information visit: www.ener-g-africa.com.

A pelletised biomass fuel is used in the EcoFAB cookware.

32 Electricity + Control JUNE 2024