The major cities (and peri-urban agglomerations) of Benin are facing
increasing demand to meet the domestic energy needs of populations. Forests
continue to be under severe pressure in the savannah formations that make up the country's forest
cover. The penetration rate of improved households is 19% and this
rate seems quite low in view of the threats to plant cover. Indeed, at the current
rate of exploitation of forest resources, in less than five years, the
sustainable supply of wood energy will no longer cover the demand. To ensure the firewood economy at the household level in Benin, improved economic stoves have been set
up by development projects and programs including the Firewood Project Phase II and the Rural Wood Market Support Project (Akouehou and
Ogouvidé, 2011; Akouehou et al., 2012).


An improved fireplace is a stove that is built to use the same local materials
as a traditional fireplace but in order to reduce the emissions of smoke, the
diseases and common conditions that these fumes cause, to reduce deforestation and to
make traditional fireplaces effective by improving them (sauler.e-monsite.com).
The purpose of this fact sheet is to identify economical improved stoves
for households using firewood and charcoal as fuels.