Blantyre, Malawi – July 15th, 2025 — BURN, Africa’s leading clean cookstove manufacturer and carbon project developer, in partnership with AIM Carbon, an international developer of innovative climate projects, has officially launched operations in Malawi with the opening of its first local production facility in the country. This marks a significant milestone in the companies’ joint mission to expand access to affordable, high-integrity clean cooking solutions across the continent.
The facility, which was officially opened by Hon. Dr. Owen Chomanika, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, spans 2,000 square meters of production and warehouse space and will produce up to 50,000 biomass stoves per month once fully operational. To begin with the rollout is the ECOA Char, the world’s most fuel-efficient charcoal stove—delivering 72% thermal efficiency and 40–65% fuel savings compared to traditional stoves. In the initial phase, 5% of units will be fitted with digital monitoring to ensure data-backed usage, carbon credit accountability, and performance verification. BURN’s stoves have been independently validated by institutions including the University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, and Yunus Social Business, consistently proving their impact on health, climate, and household savings.
Hon. Dr. Owen Chomanika, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, said: “We are truly honored to have been invited to this important occasion and proud to be part of this success story. We are here because we believe in BURN’s vision and what it seeks to achieve for the people of Malawi. Our women face challenges, walking long distances to collect firewood, exposing themselves to safety risks, and losing valuable time that could be spent on education, income-generating activities, or caring for their families. That is powerful. BURN’s life-saving stoves are not just improving health and household savings; they are protecting our forests, safeguarding our water bodies, and restoring our environment. I want to challenge BURN to produce 1.2 million stoves per year, to reach every household in Malawi within the next five years.
“As a ministry, our commitment remains clear, we will continue working to uplift Malawians. What we are doing with BURN is not just providing clean cooking solutions; we are saving lives. To everyone involved, especially the Malawians working in this facility, you are on a mission to transform and dignify the lives of our people. BURN, you are doing an exceptional job, and we are excited for what lies ahead,” added Hon. Dr. Owen Chomanika
“In 2024, the Government of Malawi issued BURN a Letter of Authorization to bring our clean cooking appliances to families who need them most,” said Peter Scott, Founder and CEO of BURN. “Thanks to that support, we’re proud to launch this facility with an initial investment of USD $1 million. Our goal is to establish Malawi as a strategic manufacturing hub serving Central and Southern Africa—including Mozambique and Zambia.”
The facility has already created 520 jobs across the value chain with 99% of employees hired locally. Roughly 50% of all roles are held by women, reinforcing BURN’s commitment to inclusive growth and community empowerment. The company aims to expand its workforce to 1,000 Malawians over the next five years.
By 2030, BURN aims to distribute 2 million clean cookstoves across Malawi, improving the lives of over 8 million people, preventing 18 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and saving 9.6 million tonnes of wood. The program is projected to generate more than USD $60 million in carbon credit subsidies and deliver USD $400 million in household fuel savings, making clean cooking affordable for even the most vulnerable households.
“This isn’t just a factory—it’s a foundation for lasting impact,” said Igor Akhmerov, CEO of AIM Carbon. “Together with BURN, we are combining trusted carbon methodologies, real-time data, and scalable distribution to deliver measurable health, climate, and economic benefits to millions across the region.”
The Malawi program is part of a wider initiative to deploy 1.2 million clean cooking appliances across four African countries—Malawi, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria. These efforts are financed through high-integrity carbon credits, reducing the retail price of stoves by 60–90%. In Malawi, this means households can access a $40 life-saving stove for as little as $5.
All appliances distributed through this initiative will generate carbon credits under Gold Standard’s TPDDTEC methodology, the most rigorous framework for biomass cookstove projects globally. The credits are fully ICVCM-approved, CCP-compliant, and CORSIA-eligible, meeting the highest standards for transparency and climate integrity.
Since 2011, BURN has sold over 5.4 million clean cooking appliances across Africa—including biomass, LPG, and electric stoves—and has positively impacted more than 27 million lives. Its portfolio includes Africa’s first IoT-enabled induction cooker, designed to help households transition to zero-emission electric cooking.
Learn more at burnstoves.com