SRBEP: The people of Kengkhar in Mongar will soon stop using traditional stoves for cooking.  Construction of biomass cooking stoves (BCS) has begun in the village.

Of the 66 planned, construction of four BCS has been completed.

Pema Tenzin, 34, no longer uses a tradition stove to cook meals at home.  Choden, Pema Tenzin’s wife, says that she no longer has to go collect firewood from forest. “I can now keep the house clean and free of soot and smoke.”

Kengkhar gup Karma Dorji says that the Sustainable Rural Biomass Energy Project (SRBEP) was started with support from the department of renewal energy.  Non-formal education (NFE) instructors were trained to construct efficient stoves.

The project has three major components, to provide improved fuelwood stoves for efficiency, to generate power from biomass gasification, and to produce wood briquette.  The first component of the project is being undertaken in Trashigang.  By the end of 2015, all the 20 dzongkhags will have improved fuelwood stoves.

Jigme Tenzin, an NFE instructor, said that SRBEP is specifically designed to counter greenhouse gas emissions, promote efficient use of energy, and to reduce consumption of fuelwood in in the country.

Tshering from Murung chiwog said he was not interested in the project, until he came to know that new stoves consumed less firewood.  The stove has two holes and a smoke pipe.

To make the stoves cheaper for farmers, the project will sponsor the metal component.

The project was started in 2013, with the support from GEF, UNDP and Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation.

Tashi Phuntsho, Mongar

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