TotalEnergies has partnered with DelAgua to distribute 200,000 high-performance cookstoves in Rwanda, aiming to provide clean cooking solutions to over 800,000 people in one year.

This initiative supports Rwanda's goal of universal clean cooking access by 2030 by reducing smoke emissions by 81% and wood consumption by 71%.

The project is also expected to prevent the emission of over 2.5 million tons of equivalent in the next decade, with associated carbon credits being used to offset TotalEnergies' residual emissions. 

Globally, more than 2.3 billion people still rely on traditional stoves that burn wood, charcoal, kerosene, coal, or even animal dung, according to the International Energy Agency.

Once it becomes operational, the project will generate carbon credits that TotalEnergies plans to acquire under the Paris Agreement, the company said in the release. And TotalEnergies intends to use these credits from 2030 onward to voluntarily offset part of its remaining direct Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

TotalEnergies’ Senior Vice-President New Business – Carbon Neutrality, Arnaud Le Foll, emphasised the initiative’s far-reaching benefits: “TotalEnergies is proud to be part of this project in Rwanda, which will allow access to clean cooking to more than 800,000 people, illustrating the Company's purpose to provide more affordable, more available and more sustainable energy."

"By developing access to these cooking methods, TotalEnergies aims to have a positive impact on the environment and on people’s health, while also helping to reduce gender inequalities. Clean cooking contributes to long-term social, economic and human development in a more sustainable way.”

DelAgua CEO Euan McDougall highlighted the transformative potential of the partnership, saying: “By combining DelAgua’s proven track record in delivering large-scale impact with TotalEnergies’ commitment to sustainable development, we are transforming lives across Rwanda while setting a new benchmark for high-quality carbon projects globally.”