Zambia

The clean cooking sector in Zambia focuses on addressing the challenges related to traditional cooking methods and improving access to cleaner and more efficient cooking technologies. Currently, a significant portion of the population relies on traditional cooking methods such as open fires and inefficient stoves, which contribute to indoor air pollution and associated health risks.

In addition, Zambia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world estimated at up to 150,000 hectares annually. A significant market opportunity exists for alternatives given that households spend over $500 million and about 3% of GDP per year on charcoal.

According to World Bank data, 10.2% of the population had access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking in 2021; a regression on the ratio of 14.1% with access in 2015. In 2021, 19.5% of the urban population had access to clean cooking fuels, compared with just 2.2% of the rural population. Compared with access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, there is much better access to electricity in Zambia; 46.7% of the population had access in 2021, up from 31.1% in 2015.

In urban areas, charcoal and electricity are the most common ways to cook. Cheap traditional charcoal mbaula stoves are found everywhere, including along the streets, while electric hotplates are also easily obtained in shops and supermarkets. Induction stoves and electric pressure cookers can be found in some larger retail outlets. About a third of urban households already use electricity as their primary cooking solution, though there is potential to increase uptake since 75% have access to electricity. Electricity is the cheapest way to cook out of all technologies even considering upcoming price increases to move tariffs towards cost reflectivity.

LPG uptake is currently low but growing in urban areas despite a doubling of LPG prices in the past 2-3 years due to the closure of the INDENI refinery and rising global prices. Historically, from 2010-2020, LPG consumption has been increasing at an annual rate of 18%, and more suppliers and retailers are entering the market. A few startup companies are trying to scale pellets and biogas with the support of A2C and other donors. In rural areas, open fires dominate with some households that can afford charcoal using the locally made artisanal mbaula stove.

Click ‘Read more’ to see data from World Bank and the Multi Tier Framework Survey.

The Government of Zambia’s commitment to clean cooking is governed by a number of policies, including Zambia’s Vision 2030, the 8th National Development Plan, National Energy Policy, Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan, Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan, Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan, and SE4ALL Action Agenda. Clean cooking in Zambia is also linked with national climate commitments, including targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under goals set in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. These policies include clean cooking as a solution to improve health and reduce deforestation, in line with national development priorities; they do not, however, provide a unified strategy, nor a full set of consistent targets with defined interventions for the sector as a whole.

To further strengthen a national clean cooking agenda and objectives, the Ministry of Energy announced plans in May 2023 to develop a national Clean Cooking Strategy and Action Plan. Key stakeholders in the sector have committed to contribute to the strategy, which will set clean cooking targets for Zambia and define clear actions with timelines and plans for resource mobilization. The Government is also preparing a Climate Change Bill, that will provide the enabling conditions for measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the promotion of clean cooking and the transition away from charcoal. Considering the role carbon financing has in the clean cooking sector, this legislation will also determine how carbon financing can be used in country, under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement or in the voluntary carbon markets.

Click ‘Read more’ to explore relevant aspects of Zambia’s clean cooking policies.

Zambia has 25 cookstove projects registered in it. These projects have generated almost 1 million carbon credits to date.

Click ‘Read more’ to explore the dashboard.

There is one clean cooking RBF programs that is underway in Zambia.

Click ‘Read more’ to explore the table of RBFs.