Ruiru-based BURN Manufacturing, makers of the Jikokoa and Kuniokoa cookstoves, has been awarded this year’s Bloomberg New Energy Pioneers Award.
The annual award recognizes “game-changing companies” in the field of clean energy technology and innovation.
BURN’s Chief Operating Officer Boston Nyer accepted the honor this week during BNEF’s Future of Energy Summit in New York City.
BURN, was one of ten winners who were selected from among 160 applicants from 47 countries and the only African-based recipient of this year’s award.
“We are honored to be recognized by such a prestigious organization as being among the world’s leaders in clean energy solutions,” BURN Chief Executive Officer Peter Scott noted.
“Having sold more than 400,000 modern, super fuel-efficient biomass cookstoves since 2013, we are not only transforming lives, but also proving to the world that cookstoves can have a transformative impact.
"Our fuel-efficient jikos not only save users $100 - $500 annually in energy expenses, but also help save the lives of people in sub-Saharan Africa who might otherwise have died from harmful smoke due to cooking on traditional stoves," Scott added.
According to the World Health Organization, 4.3 million people each year die from exposure to household air pollution.