Cook cleanly, Schlettwein urges in Paris

The financing of clean cooking is much more than the financing of the energy transition - it must include the financing of water infrastructure, sanitation systems and energy-smart housing.

In fact, according to agriculture, water and land reform minister Calle Schlettwein, this is an important building block of financing poverty eradication.

Speaking at the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa in Paris, France, he said: "Many technologies are already available to improve clean living, including energy-smart homes, smart water uses and the conversion of sewage and wastewater into reusable resources, but are they affordable for everyone?"

Families and communities must have the financial means to live cleanly, cook cleanly and use resources sustainably, he emphasised.

"Inclusive strategies that tackle poverty and promote sustainability in resource use must be the priority."

Clean cooking refers to the use of cleaner fuels and energy-efficient modern stoves.

Broader approach

The minister said Namibia welcomes initiatives to include clean cooking in the environmental, development, financial and energy transformation agenda, but "on top of clean energy at affordable rates, there is the need to tackle the current water crisis, an urgent reality".

An improved capacity to deliver clean water and sanitation - at affordable rates for people, industries and the environment - is necessary for development, Schlettwein stressed.

"Equally, agricultural production must be clean so that the food and grain produced is indeed clean and affordable for everyone, and environmentally sustainable. A further prerequisite will be clean and safe housing, also at affordable prices."

However, clean cooking cannot be approached by looking exclusively at the energy agenda, he said.

"A much broader, more diverse and integrated approach is needed. The ingredients for clean cooking include clean energy, water, food, utensils and, last but not least, clean housing with hygienic and clean sanitation systems."

‘Loans don’t help’

He emphasised that a lack of financial capacity in both the public and private sectors has prevented Namibia and many other African countries from realising clean cooking.

"Although we agree that the target of clean cooking by 2030 is realistic, we must remember that African economies are mostly overburdened with debt. Funding models that accept more loans to solve the clean cooking crisis will therefore not be a viable financing option."

The minister reiterated that Namibia has the ambition to become the energy centre of the southern African region by sustainably utilising its available energy resources - with the discovery of significant oil and gas resources potentially making it the third-largest oil producer on the African continent.

"At the same time, Namibia is at the forefront of developing its green hydrogen resources through the exploitation of solar and wind resources, which are considered among the best worldwide.

"Namibia's economic and environmental prosperity and future therefore depend - to a large extent - on how these resources are used to bring about sustainable development, long-term economic growth and wealth creation, while increasing our contribution to a meaningful energy transition, Schlettwein said.

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