Studies of energy efficiency and market access of domestic charcoal stoves in Maputo City

Sammanfattning: In Mozambique, almost 80% of the population uses firewood for their energy needs,  however this use is not exclusive only to rural areas, observing the same in urban areas who not only use the wood and also charcoal stoves. Because of this situation, there is a huge devastation of the forest, which has caused the depletion of flora, thus missing native species without its due spare.  In Maputo, most households, the use of fire wood was replaced by charcoal because of high energetic intensity and also transportation and storing promptness. In 2011, three millions of sacs of charcoal have been in consumption, managing a market of $70 million in 2010 and 2012, the price rise a lot from 250 to 650 Meticais (200% more). In this context came the need, to evaluate the energy efficiency of charcoal stoves and their respective access by the population in Maputo in order to contribute to the reduction of excessive consumption of biomass. For it was made evaluation of energetic efficiency in ten stoves most used in the city of Maputo, We tested the quality of charcoal and found to demand access to its coal. The results showed that the charcoal tested is not the good quality because the values are outside the acceptable levels According to the literature. Energy efficiency evaluation noted that the most efficient stoves have been improved in spite of the water boiling test of the traditional stoves have been boil faster. There was also, that consumers prefer to buy products from day to day in establishments near to their residence and do not spend more money than 100.00 MTn (2 USD) every time moving to sales points.