Shell Sponsors Conference on Solar Cooking in Tanzania

Through the good work of Prof. Brian Thompson at Michigan State University, Shell foundation of United Kingdom gave a grant to Solar Circle to organize a workshop on solar cooking in Morogoro at Sokoine University in September 2007. Through close collaboration between Dr. Thompson and Prof. Theo Mosha from Sokoine, a wonderful gathering came to being in Morogoro – representatives from many agencies – vocational technical schools, small industry development, entrepreneurs, educators, policy makers and advocated – gathered to learn about solar cooking and brainstorm best ways to promulgate solar cooking in Tanzania.

The biggest hurdle to widespread use? Finding an oven that can be produced inexpensively enough that it is within financial reach of most people. The oven being manufactured in Tanzania is heavily subsidized by Solar Circle. This works in the short term because of the generous support from friends of the Circle. But the search is on for a longer term solution.

The Masasi contingent, led by Joyce Liundi, showed off their oven; engineering students from Purdue University and their professor, Dan Hirleman, demonstrated an oven of their design and explained the science behind the design; and a few other ovens were also demonstrated – one from South Africa, another from Holland, and the cardboard Cookit from Solar Cookers International. Ah, the good smells of food cooking while everyone struggled with solutions. And the oohs and aahs from people seeing solar cooking for the first time!

The workshop was a good start – technicians and policy makers gathered around several cookers, examining them, raising questions, suggesting modifications. A representative group continues to study the ovens and will make a recommendation on best ways to proceed before year’s end.