BB Energy Announces Launch of 200,000 Cookstove Initiative in Rwanda

In partnership with its local subsidiary Société Pétrolière (SP), and local manufacturer Quality Engineering Company (QEC), BB Energy is supplying energy efficient wood-burning stoves to rural communities across Rwanda.

In November 2021, BB Energy signed an MoU with the Ministry of Environment in which the Group promised to undertake a wide range of initiatives that would further Rwanda’s fight against climate change. Less than a year on from signing day, the group has delivered its first landmark project in the country.

The initiative will provide 200,000 cooking stoves to households across the country free of charge. In replacing the traditional three-stone fire cooking method, the new stoves will significantly cut harmful household emissions such as carbon monoxide, as well as reduce deforestation. Importantly, the efficiency of the new stoves will decrease the time pressure on women and children to collect wood; the time previously spent foraging can now be put towards productive or leisurely activities.

QEC will manufacture the stoves locally and distribute them to the rural communities. Once the stoves are delivered, an active training plan will be undertaken, wherein QEC representatives will engage with beneficiaries to provide them with the knowledge on how to best use the stoves. By engaging a local enterprise to assist with the operations of the project, BB Energy is creating employment opportunities for more than 100 Rwandans.

Qualifying as a carbon reduction initiative, the project has been submitted to Verra for registration, with details available to the public on the project registry (Project ID: 3654).

Mohamed Bassatne, CEO of BB Energy said: “Almost three billion people around the world cook on open fires., with women and children in particular bearing the brunt of the negative impacts.”

“As part of our CSR strategy, we, at BB Energy, believe in giving back to the local communities in which we operate.  We are proud to collaborate with our local partner SP Rwanda on the Improved Cookstove initiative.  We have so far engaged 100 Rwandans to manufacture, distribute, and deliver the ICS to low-income families in rural areas. The stoves provide a cleaner and more efficient alternative to the traditional three-stone fire method and can significantly reduce the indoor air pollution which causes serious respiratory illnesses and puts families’ lives at risk,” he added.

BB Energy was established in 1937 and today is one of the world’s leading independent energy trading companies, with a fast-growing renewable energy and emission reduction division. The company has 474 employees in 12 offices spanning five continents, with key trading hubs in London, Dubai, Singapore, and Houston.

BB Energy holds a 70% stake in Société Pétrolière (SP), the largest fully integrated oil marketing company in Rwanda with a 35% market share and sourcing capabilities in Kenya and Tanzania.  SP sells approximately 150,000 m3 per annum of refined products through its retail network and wholesale customers. In 2019, SP expanded its storage capacity to reach 60,000 m3 to serve a 20-year contract with the government for the country’s strategic stock.  SP is currently building LPG storage for the government strategic stock and for its own use, which is expected to be completed by 2023.

Media Contacts:
Lara Koujou and Karim Bassatne
Email: corporatecommunications@bbenergy.com

Media Contacts

Karim Bassatne
Head of Corporate Communications
T: +971 4 432 8300
E: corporatecommunications@bbenergy.com