By Winnie Kamau
Jiko Koa, BURN a Kenyan based energy saving cooking stove manufacturing company was feted at the 2018 Bloomberg New Energy Pioneers Award which is hosted by the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).
The 2018 New Energy Pioneers were unveiled at BNEF’s Future of Energy Summit, in New York City having been selected from 160 contestants drawn from over 50 countries. According to Bloomberg, the Awards are aimed at recognizing innovators and accelerate the transition that is underway in today’s new energy economy and commercial opportunities.
According to the World Health Organization, 4.3 million people each year die from exposure to household air pollution.
In receiving the award Chief Executive Officer of BURN Peter Scott noted “To win an award from an organization I admire so much is humbling. Recognition as a Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer means that BURN is able to share its story with the world. It gives a boost to our mission of saving forests and lives in the developing world through improved cooking solutions.” Also in attendance to accept the Award was Burn’s Chief Operating Officer Boston Nyer.
The Kiambu County-based institution, BURN was the only company in Africa that was recognized during the prestigious event. Founded in 2011 BURN manufactures its own designs, sells and distributes biomass jikos which is Swahili word for cooking stoves like Jiko koa and Kuni okoa not only in Kenya but also in Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
BURN CEO Peter Scott said “We are honored to be recognized by such a prestigious organization as being among the world’s leaders in clean energy solutions. Having sold more than 400,000 modern, super fuel-efficient biomass cookstoves since 2013, we are not only transforming lives, but also proving to the world that cookstoves can have a transformative impact.” Adding “Our fuel-efficient jikos not only save users $100 – $500 annually in energy expenses but also help save the lives of people in sub-Saharan Africa who might otherwise have died from harmful smoke due to cooking on traditional stoves.”
