Miombo is a resource center supporting rural and peri-urban development based on economic, ecological and social sustainability, focused primarily on the southern part of Africa. We focus on forest and water resources as a foundation for the local climate and environment, food production and social welfare. Miombo is introducing the Peko Pe Concept to Western and Central Provinces of Zambia, focusing on solid biomass waste like Corn cobs turned into biochar. We emphasize presence, training, monitoring, observation and evaluation.
Contact Information
Our Focus
Miombo provides high tech know how into low tech solutions at a practical level and in direct dialogue with those in need of development and support. We are promoting and establishing the communities' own projects and seek partnerships with other organizations in the southern part of Africa, like Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
Miombo initiates projects related to the use of organic materials as fuel for cooking. We have the technology and strategies on how such initiatives will be implemented. Miombo is working to develop the Peko Pe Concept in collaboration with Paal Wendelbo. Focusing on the use of any type of biomass to replace charcoal and firewood, which covers more than 85% of the energy consumption in low income households. This fuel is produced locally and used in both towns and more urban areas. Charcoal is the most common form of commodity, both locally and for export to urban areas. Forest is cut at a high rate and converted into charcoal through a process with large energy loss (70-80%). As a "reasonable" energy source, charcoal is a growing market. As deforestation is also steadily increasing, population groups are affected by dried out water sources and major changes in the local and regional climate. Miombo will assist the introduction of appropriate technology and integrated solid waste biomass as energy in rural and peri urban areas, particularly in places where deforestation is already high and increasing. Local people are often aware of the consequences, but do not have the capacity or technology to change course. In such a situation we like to focus on any type of biomass to be used as fuel in Peko Pe ND Gasifier Units.
The questions around household energy are very much and often tied into the overall structural and political conditions.
We assume that the main challenge lies in developing a technology that takes into account such circumstances that makes it economically advantageous to change the form of production and use of different types of biomass and stoves. There is always a matter of cost for both stoves and fuel, whereby local production should be in focus, not only because of costs but also thinking about employment as well.
We are promoting the Peko Pe(Top Lit Up Draft Natural Draft) Gasifier concept developed by the Norwegian architect Paal Wendelbo. We also focus on different types of dry solid waste biomass as fuel to be processed into pellets in the Peko Pe.
We are mainly focusing on rural settings, but would very much like to establish Energy Monitoring and Testing centers throughout Africa, including the effects of using the charcoal as biochar.
Relevant Publications or Studies
Kasama-Kasisi Pilot Project in 2009 The Peko Pe pioneer Paal Wendelbo Efficiency tests on the pyrolysis gasifier Stove Pekeo Pe Interpretation of CO and PM Emisions Data from ND Gasifiers Cookstoves Transfer of knowledge
Our Contribution to the Partnership
We would like to contribute to make an overview or a "short listed" stoves available on the market today, referring to price, quality, efficiency, clean burning, emissions etc. Regarding fuel, we will test out different types of dry biomass to be pelletized as fuel for gasifier stoves.
