Etulan Ikpoki is the Country Manager of BURN Manufacturing. She was part of a delegation to the Ministry of Petroleum in Abuja on a strategy meeting, recently, where discussion focused on Nigeria’s clean energy landscape, BURN’s innovation around LPG technologies and expertise in carbon project development to make sustainable clean cooking solutions more affordable and accessible to all Nigerian households by 2050. She later spoke on the sidelines with some select journalists. Excerpts:
Can you share why BURN Manufacturing chose to focus on Africa, and Nigeria in particular in West Africa, given the current economic challenges?
BURN’s focus on West Africa, particularly Nigeria, is driven by our commitment to saving lives and forests through the design, manufacturing, and distribution of the world’s most fuel-efficient cooking appliances. The United Nations reported that Nigeria experiences one of the highest rates of deforestation globally, having lost 410,000 hectares of forest cover annually between 2005 and 2010.Through investments in clean cooking solutions, we aim to promote environmental sustainability, enhance health outcomes and stimulate local economies by creating job opportunities. Our focus is on harnessing our expertise and partnerships to empower communities and catalyse positive change, reaffirming our belief in Africa’s potential for sustainable growth and positive impact.
How is BURN addressing global concerns about health due to carbon emissions and environmental issues like deforestation through its clean cooking initiatives?
Our clean cooking solutions are crucial in addressing global concerns regarding the health impacts of carbon emissions. Our product portfolio, which includes electric, biomass, LPG, and ethanol cooking appliances, are designed to be more efficient than market alternatives, reducing the need to cut down trees for fuel, thereby lowering carbon dioxide emissions and improving air quality. This helps to reduce the risk of respiratory diseases and eye issues caused by heavy smoke exposure while cooking.
What are BURN’s successes in Nigeria?
In 2023 we launched a manufacturing facility in Kano, Nigeria, which has expanded to produce 35 ,000 cooking appliances per month, with the capacity to produce 100,000 units per month. Our operations in the country have created 700 jobs for Nigerians, 40% of whom are women. We plan to create an additional 1000 jobs as we continue to expand in the country. BURN is committed to providing clean cooking solutions in the West African region while creating local job opportunities and stimulating economic growth.
What opportunities do you see on the horizon?
BURN aligns with the Federal Ministry of Environment’s priorities and President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for a cleaner and healthier environment. In collaboration with the government, we see an immense opportunity to increase the adoption of cleaner LPG and biomass cooking appliances and improve the lives of millions of Nigerians. We also support the government as it implements policies that protect and support local manufacturers, whose contributions are essential in advancing the adoption of cleaner energy sources like LPG. Such policies will reinforce the government’s energy transition plan and stimulate economic growth.
In what ways has BURN contributed to job creation and poverty reduction in the regions where it operates?
BURN has employed 3500 people globally, 50% of whom are women. Currently, 700 people are employed at BURN Nigeria with plans to expand this number to ~1000 people. We leverage carbon finance to make clean cooking accessible and affordable for low-income households across Nigeria, this reduces the cost of highly efficient biomass stoves by over 95%, bringing the price of a $50 stove down to just $3 to $5. This not only makes our stoves affordable but also results in annual fuel savings of over $100 per household. The BURN clean cooking investment in Nigeria will impact 3 million lives.
What specific impacts do you foresee BURN’s projects having on Nigeria’s economy and environmental sustainability?
BURN is committed to the fight against climate change and supports environmental protection and sustainability by reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and cutting down greenhouse gas emissions. We are promoting industrial growth and community development by creating job opportunities, while constantly improving manufacturing capabilities for clean cooking appliances. Our efforts align with and support the National Energy Transition Agenda, paving the way for a more resilient future. Additionally, we aim at reducing the burden of diseases associated with indoor air pollution, promoting better health outcomes for Nigerian families.
In light of the renewed focus on sustainability by the current administration, what are BURN’s expectations regarding the formation of policies around clean cooking and carbon regulations in Nigeria?
BURN anticipates the formation of comprehensive policies and carbon regulations supporting Nigeria’s clean cooking and carbon regulations that will drive widespread adoption of energy-efficient solutions, foster investment in renewable energy infrastructure, create substantial job opportunities, and significantly reduce the country’s carbon footprint. We commend the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) for developing the Nigerian Clean Cooking Policy and their ongoing efforts to draft carbon regulations. These initiatives are pivotal for Nigeria and align with BURN’s mission to save lives and forests by designing, manufacturing and distributing world’s most fuel-efficient cooking appliances. For Nigeria, these policies will improve public health, environmental protection, and economic growth through the promotion of sustainable practices.
Given the government’s Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP) policy to drive strategic reforms and promote clean energy, how does BURN plan to align with and support these initiatives?
The policy recognises the critical role of clean energy in achieving environmental and economic stability. BURN will continue to align with the energy transition plan by leveraging these policies to encourage the use of clean cooking solutions, reducing the use of traditional biomass cooking appliances and reducing deforestation while improving public health.
While the government has been vocal about its energy transition goals, how is BURN committed to actualising these goals through concrete actions?
We recognise the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions while aligning with the government’s goals. Our commitment to this transition is demonstrated through strategic investments in renewable technology, rigorous carbon reduction targets, and fostering innovation in clean energy production. We actively collaborate with stakeholders to drive policy advocacy and implement scalable initiatives that contribute meaningfully to the energy transition agenda. We are dedicated to delivering measurable outcomes that support a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.
What specific step is BURN taking that will align with the Nigerian government in its energy transition efforts, especially in the current economic climate?
To date, BURN has distributed 500,000 clean cooking appliances across Nigeria and established a state-of-the-art factory in Kano designed for assembling fuel-efficient biomass cooking appliances. This facility has created 700 jobs, with half of our workforce being women. We plan to increase our manufacturing capacity to 500,000 cooking appliances per month by 2025. This growth demonstrates our dedication to support Nigeria’s energy goals and economic development. Our recent collaboration with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority on issuing the first-ever green bond in sub-Saharan Africa for clean cooking financing exemplifies our ongoing commitment to these efforts.
As a foremost leader in the market, share a bit about BURN’s manufacturing readiness and capacity and license to operate in Nigeria. How does BURN’s compare counterparts in the market?
We take pride in being the largest vertically integrated clean cook cooking appliance company, enabling us to operate across the full carbon value chain—from product design and manufacturing to distribution, monitoring, and even the issuance and sales of high integrity carbon credits. We execute carbon credit projects that utilise the most rigorous methodologies such as Technologies and Practices to Displace Decentralised Thermal Energy Consumption (TPDDTEC. We model and update new projects based on updated fNRBs and using dMRV and MMECD. We prioritise quality and innovation in our products. We ensure quality control and efficiency while allowing room for rapid and sustainable innovation. This comprehensive approach drives our mission to deliver impactful, environmentally responsible solutions to communities across the globe.
How can Nigeria plug into and position itself in the broader conversation about clean cooking and sustainable energy on the African continent?
Nigeria has the potential to lead the sustainable energy conservation in Africa by developing a comprehensive carbon regulation framework that not only addresses environmental challenges but also creates attractive opportunities, such as foreign direct investment (FDI) that subsidises clean cooking solutions. By forging bilateral agreements with global northern countries and leveraging the full scope of Article 6, Nigeria can establish a robust regulatory environment and framework that includes financial incentives such as subsidies, tax breaks, or grants to offset the costs of adopting energy-efficient technologies. These incentives encourage sustainable practices across communities, allowing Nigeria to accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
