One of the players in the sustainable renewable energy sector, Community Energy Malawi-CEM, says the use of gas for cooking is not as complicated and dangerous as people perceive it and it is cheaper than charcoal and firewood.

CEM’s Advocacy and Communications Officer, Wonderful Mkhutche, made the remarks in Zomba on Wednesday when his organisation handed over 1350 gas cookers to beneficiaries in the district.

Mkhutche said they do follow ups with beneficiaries who are using gas for cooking and so far no one has faced any challenges.

He further advised people to seek guidance advice from accredited dealers including CEM on proper usage of gas to avoid any accidents.

“It is safe to use gas as long as one is following all the guidelines and so far there haven’t been any accidents from the beneficiaries who received the cookers 5 months ago,” Mkhutche said.

He said the initiative is in line with their efforts to facilitate the switch from the use of charcoal and firewood to gas in a drive to conserve the environment.

One of the beneficiaries, Olivia Bonongwe, said she felt compelled to start using gas for cooking as opposed to charcoal after weighing the benefits and burdens in terms of the environment and the cost.

“The late at which our forests are depleting is scary and if we continue to use charcoal and firewood, then natural disasters will be the order of the day. Gas is even cheaper than charcoal so this is a win win situation,” Bonongwe said.

CEM is implementing a project called Environmentally Friendly Cooking ‘Phikani Moganizira Chilengedwe’ in Lilongwe and Zomba districts and some of the interventions include installation of Biogas plants and distribution of gas cookers and Chitetezo Mbaula to 2700 beneficiaries.