September 12, 2017
The Unica Foundation, along with the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) Kaski, has resumed the Improved Cooking Stoves (ICS) project. Three new ICS projects have been signed between the Unica Foundation and the NRCS all of which will start from 1 September 2017.
As there was some confusion about the Nepal Government’s subsidy policy, no new ICS projects were launched after the Salyan ICS project in early 2016. The government has now reintroduced the same subsidy policy for metallic ICS, amounting to NPR 3000 (€25) per stove.
Sildajure
139 households in Sildajure will benefit from the project. Metallic cooking stoves will be launched and training provided to its users. This project will last for eight months.
Posi Perkeu
34 households from Posi Perkeu will benefit from the project. Metallic cooking stoves will be provided plus any necessary training on its use. This project will last for six months.
Ghachok
Unlike Sildajure and Posi Perkeu, mud-brick technology will be used in the village of Ghachok. 94 households will benefit from the project. In compliance with the policy of the Nepal Government / Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, villages that are below 1500m in altitude are advised to go for mud-brick ICS. For settlements located at 1500m or higher, the advice is to use metallic ICS. As part of the project, the plan is to train 20 people from Ghachok and neighbouring communities on the installation of the mud-brick ICS – this will help increase engagement and generate more income in the village. The promotion of ICS will be widespread as well. This project will last for 6 months.
As Unica had been working on metallic ICS projects only thus far, this is the first ICS project which has a mud-brick basis.
The Unica Foundation and the NRCS have been working together on ICS projects for a decade to mitigate the environmental as well as the health challenges of rural communities in Nepal.
