Transitioning pellet stove production: China to Rwanda BioMassters and Mimi Moto are seeking funding to de-risk and accelerate the rollout of a new version of a tier-4 advanced biomass stove that was developed by Mimi Moto. The new version will use the same core technology as the existing model but will be domestically assembled and then installed into kitchens, as opposed to the existing fully imported and portable stove model. Mimi Moto will need to send less materials from China while more local materials and labour will be used. This transition of stove production from China to Rwanda will have three key benefits: 1) It will drop the price of the cookstove, reducing or eliminating the barrier to adopting this solution, 2) It will create green jobs in Rwanda and contribute to knowledge transfer and economic development, and 3) It will allow for customisation of stove body design, leading to greater customer satisfaction.

As the first WHO tier-4 clean burning gasification stove to run on biofuel, the portable Mimi Moto model was an important innovation in clean cooking. We are thus taking this a step further with an inbuilt, installed version, produced in Rwanda. The novel aspects of the installation, including customisation, have received positive feedback from a pilot initiative, including with several Village Chiefs. By building trust and connections with these gatekeepers of the community, BioMassters are uniquely placed to open people up to replacing traditional methods with the innovative pellet fuel and stove system.

Pellet fuel is roughly 30% cheaper than charcoal and the pellet fuel and stove combination uses 90% less biomass compared to charcoal cooking. In addition to that, its clean burn significantly reduces harm to the user. Since cooking in Rwanda is carried out by mostly women and girls, BioMassters have a positive impact on both the environment, and women's health. Funding would enable the introduction of the cheaper model, allowing these benefits to accrue to low-income groups, particularly women and girls. BioMassters and Mimi Moto are seeking funding to de-risk and accelerate the rollout of a new version of a tier-4 advanced biomass stove that was developed by Mimi Moto. The new version will use the same core technology as the existing model but will be domestically assembled and then installed into kitchens, as opposed to the existing fully imported and portable stove model. Mimi Moto will need to send less materials from China while more local materials and labour will be used. This transition of stove production from China to Rwanda will have three key benefits: 1) It will drop the price of the cookstove, reducing or eliminating the barrier to adopting this solution, 2) It will create green jobs in Rwanda and contribute to knowledge transfer and economic development, and 3) It will allow for customisation of stove body design, leading to greater customer satisfaction.

As the first WHO tier-4 clean burning gasification stove to run on biofuel, the portable Mimi Moto model was an important innovation in clean cooking. We are thus taking this a step further with an inbuilt, installed version, produced in Rwanda. The novel aspects of the installation, including customisation, have received positive feedback from a pilot initiative, including with several Village Chiefs. By building trust and connections with these gatekeepers of the community, BioMassters are uniquely placed to open people up to replacing traditional methods with the innovative pellet fuel and stove system.

Pellet fuel is roughly 30% cheaper than charcoal and the pellet fuel and stove combination uses 90% less biomass compared to charcoal cooking. In addition to that, its clean burn significantly reduces harm to the user. Since cooking in Rwanda is carried out by mostly women and girls, BioMassters have a positive impact on both the environment, and women's health. Funding would enable the introduction of the cheaper model, allowing these benefits to accrue to low-income groups, particularly women and girls.