KIRIBATI

COOKING FOR LIFE

STRATEGY

Prepared by the

Energy Planning Unit, Ministry of Works and Public Utilities with assistance from the

Energy Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Secretariat of the Pacific Community Suva, Fiji

2014

© Government of Kiribati, 2014

All rights for commercial/for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved.

Original text: English

Secretariat of the Pacific Community Cataloguing-in-publication data

Kiribati Cooking for Life Strategy / Energy Planning Unit, Ministry of Works and Public Utilities [and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community]

1.  Public health — Kiribati.

2.  Public health — Management — Kiribati.

3.  Cooking — Kiribati.

4.  Cooking — Social aspects — Kiribati.

 I.  Title II. Kiribati III. Secretariat of the Pacific Community

641. 5099593                                                                                                                                                        AACR2

ISBN: 978-982-00-0751-2

CONTENTS

ACRONYMS..................................................................................................................... 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................. 8

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................. 9

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 12

2. COUNTRY CONTEXT........................................................................................... 14

2.1                    Physical description................................................................................................. 14

2.2                    Economic and political description............................................................................ 14

2.3                    Population and households...................................................................................... 14

2.4                    Environment........................................................................................................... 15

2.5                    Income and poverty levels....................................................................................... 15

2.6                    Health.................................................................................................................... 15

2.7                    Gender and youth................................................................................................... 16

2.8                    Energy landscape................................................................................................... 16

2.9                    Cooking fuel uses.................................................................................................... 16

2.10              Cooking fuel energy contents and accessibility.......................................................... 17

2.11              Efficiency and conservation...................................................................................... 17

3. INSTITUTIONAL, POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS......................... 20

3.1                    Institutional framework............................................................................................. 20

3.1.1   Stakeholders benefits and targets............................................................................ 20

3.2                    Policy framework..................................................................................................... 21

3.2.1   Regional Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific................................ 21

3.2.2   Kiribati Development Plan........................................................................................ 22

3.2.3   Kiribati National Energy Policy.................................................................................. 23

3.3                    Legislative framework.............................................................................................. 23

3.3.1   Environment Act 1999 and its Amendment 2007........................................................ 23

3.3.2   Petroleum Act 1970................................................................................................. 23

3.3.3   Customs Act 2005................................................................................................... 24

3.3.4   Price Ordinance (Amendment) Act 1981................................................................... 24

4. COOKING FOR LIFE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK................................................ 25

4.1                   KNEP Vision........................................................................................................... 25

4.2                   CFL Outcome......................................................................................................... 25

4.3                   CFL Broad Goal...................................................................................................... 25

4.4                   Rationale for the strategy......................................................................................... 25

4.5                   Baseline and targets................................................................................................ 27

5. COOKING FOR LIFE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN................................................. 28

ANNEXES........................................................................................................................ 33

Annex 1:    Investment required to support LPG use for cooking............................................ 34

Annex 2:    Promoting and using solar LED lights................................................................. 34

Annex 3:    Investment required to support improved cook stove............................................ 35

Annex 4:    Risks and mitigation.......................................................................................... 36

Annex 5:    Organisations consulted.................................................................................... 38

ACRONYMS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Kiribati Cooking for Life Strategy has been prepared by the prepared by the Energy Planning Unit, Ministry of Works and Public Utilities with assistance from the Energy Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

The Energy Planning Unit is grateful to relevant stakeholders who have contributed their ideas to this strategy. Development partners, government ministries and state owned companies, private sector and non-government organisations, as well as individuals consulted are gratefully acknowledged.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Kiribati Cooking for Life (CFL) Strategy is a five year strategic plan to guide the Energy Planning Unit (EPU) of the Ministry of Works and Public Utilities (MWPU) and its stakeholders in the promotion of cleaner and efficientcooking fuel and technology in Kiribati. Cooking fuel in the urban centres is predominantly kerosene or dual purpose kerosene (DBK) followed by  biomass or  firewood use. In  this context, clean  and efficient cooking fuel is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and cleans and efficient cooking technology is improved cook stove (ICS).

The lead implementing agency for the promotion of LPG use for cooking are the Kiribati Oil Company Limited (KOIL) and the new established LPG company, BAMA, while the agency for increasing the use of ICS acts through a local non-government organisation. The targeted areas of the CFL strategy are South Tarawa, Betio, North Tarawa and Kiritimati Island. The CFL will be reviewed for possible inclusion of other islands of Kiribati after two years of its implementation.

The CFL strategy aims to  demonstrate that energy efficiency and conservation in cooking can contribute  to saving cooking fuels. The CFL strategy is indirectly contributing to the outcome of the Kiribati National Development Strategy and to the implementation of the Kiribati National Energy Policy (KNEP). In order to achieve the goals and outcome of the CFL, political will is needed to change the policy environment, and the current incentives for kerosene use. The CFL also considers kerosene household use such as lighting, especially in the outer islands and therefore the introduction and promotion of solar LED lights that are affordable and accessible. An Economic Analysis of Kerosene Subsidy Policy Information Paper addresses the removal of incentives for kerosene use, and the benefits to all stakeholders, has been developed and presented to EPU and should be read as part of this strategy.

Outcome

The outcome of the CFL is aligned to one of  the KNEP policy priority issues which is ‘Economic growth and improvement of livelihoods’

Goals

ӽ    75% of households in urban centres have access to LPG for cooking1 by 2020;

ӽ    80% (9,658) households in urban centres use ICS for cooking by 2020;

ӽ    100% of targeted households in rural areas replace kerosene use with solar LED lights by 2020.

Strategies and investment

The total cost of achieving the strategies and ultimately the goals and outcome of the CFL strategy is estimated at AUD 612,515. This cost does not include additional investment capital for purchase of LPG, LPG storage and shipment cost.

Strategy 1: Provides and supports the affordability of LPG through a pilot study and distribution of starter kits and surveys to 100 households: AUD 100,000;

Strategy 2: Provides and supports the accessibility of LPG: AUD 260,500 (gas cylinders) excluding LPG initial cost (287 tons) by 2015, AUD 171,015 for gas cylinders and 471 tons of LPG by 2020;

Strategy 3: Develop technical capacities and awareness related to LPG use, safety, environment and health: AUD 13,000;

Strategy 4: Increase access to solar LED lights (SLL) in the urban and rural outer islands AUD 15,000;

Strategy 5: Increase the access and use of improved cook stove (ICS) AUD 53,000.

1                 The 2010 Kiribati Census Report showed that only 25% of households in the targeted areas use LPG for cooking.

Operational plan for implementing the CFL strategy

1.            INTRODUCTION

The Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4ALL) developed by the United Nations Secretary and endorsed by the global community at the RIO+20 conferences in June 2012, in which the Pacific Island countries  and territories (PICTs) including Kiribati participated, has three interrelated goals to be achieved in 2030: universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. In addition, the Cooking for Life (CFL) Partnership is a global initiative that aims to transition one billion people from traditional fuels to cleaner burning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 2030, thus also contributing to the SE4ALL. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is a public–private partnership that seeks to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and protect the environment by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions.

In the context of the SE4ALL first goal, universal access to modern energy services, the Energy Programme of Economic Development Division (EDD) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), through its policy and planning technical assistance to Kiribati, developed a  draft  concept paper, The  Cooking for Life Initiative. The paper was presented to the EPU in August 2012, to seek support and participation. The initiative is a five year programme which aims to provide 10,000 households from PICTs with a healthier and cleaner cooking environment by cooking with cleaner fuels and less smoke emitting stoves/technologies. Kiribati was chosen to participate in this initiative due to its limited land mass area, rapidly declining supply of biomass in the urbanareas, and the increasing use of imported kerosene in South Tarawa, Betio and Kiritimati Island.

Cooking with biomass and kerosene can cause various health problems such as impairment of lung function, infectious illnesses including tuberculosis and asthma, and the risk of cancer. Nevertheless, few studies have been designed, the quality of existing studies is varied, and results are inconsistent. 2 According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, life expectancy in Kiribati is 65 years while the respiratory infections rate is 3.2% compared with the world’s lowest of 0.1%. 3 Other ailments related to cooking with biomass and kerosene, include teary eyes, cataract and burns. 4 The prevalence of asthma in Kiribati is

1.0% compared with the world’s highest of 2.8%.

Climate change is one of the world’s serious threats. Because Kiribati is extremely vulnerable to sea level rise the need to adapt and mitigate the impacts has been and remains a priority for the Government of Kiribati (GoK). The increased demand for energy, in particular, for kerosene for cooking is evident in South Tarawa and Betio and the demand for lighting in the outer islands is evident by increased imports during  the last decade from 1.85 million litres in 2000 to 3.6 million litres in 2010. Promoting and developing alternative renewable energy sources for cooking and lighting, and improving energy efficiency have been highlighted in the Kiribati National Energy Policy (KNEP).

The Kiribati Cooking for Life strategy promotes LPG for cooking. LPG is still a petroleum product but has less carbon dioxide per unit of energy than kerosene and other types of oil. It has a higher energy content compared with kerosene. One kilogram of LPG (butane) has an energy content of 44,500 joules compared with kerosene, which has an energy content of 36,800 joules. Therefore less LPG is required to cook food compared with kerosene.

Because this cost does not reflect the charges or taxes imposed on LPG, however, kerosene is cheaper.  On the other hand, ICS are considered a modern and efficient technology and the promotion and use of these stoves would reduce the cutting down of trees for cooking purposes, and the burden of collecting firewood usually done by children. Other advantages using the ICS are the reduction in smoke emitted from cooking with biomass, thesaving on  firewood and, indirectly, reduced time taken by  women and children  to collect firewood.

2                                   Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part C Critical Reviews. http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/uteb20

3                                   http://www.who.int/quantifying_ehimpacts/national/countryprofile/kiribati.pdf

4                                   These three health effect were collected through the household energy survey conducted on South Tarawa and Betio in May 2013.

2.            COUNTRY CONTEXT

2.1                     Physical description

The Republic of Kiribati is made up of three main groups of  low  lying islands, the Gilbert Islands Group  and the Line and Phoenix Islands. The total land mass is only 813 square kilometres compared with the sea land area of  3,200,000 square kilometres. There  are  16  islands in  the  Gilbert Group,  two islands in the Line Islands and four islands in the Phoenix Islands. Kiribati is scattered across a vast exclusive economic zone which also provides the main capital income for the Government. Sale of fishing licenses currently generates around AUD 36 million (USD 25 million) per year. Kiribati relies on official development assistance which is also often tied to specific development objectives determined by donor countries. Kiribati receives around AUD 36 million (USD 25 million), annually in donor funding. 5 Kiribati is one of the PICTS most vulnerable to climate change as its highest point is less than two metres above sea level. The only agricultural commodity is copra; there is some seaweed farming mostly in Fanning, in the Phoenix Islands.

2.2                     Economic and political description

Kiribati is vulnerable to the effects of global fuel and food price increases as experienced in early 2008.  The retail prices of food items had doubled those of  December 2007; although global food  prices fell in the second quarter of 2009, the annual rate was still high at 13.2%.

In addition, Kiribati has a very substantial trade deficit, having virtually no commodity exports. Its trade deficit is offset by flows of factor income from abroad (RERF, 6 seafarers, remittances and fishing licence fees) and development assistance. There is very little foreign direct investment and Kiribati is virtually totally reliant on imports of  fuel for  all transport and power generation. Kiribati is  ranked 122  out of  189  in the World Bank Doing Business ranking data, of June 2013.

2.3                     Population and households

The total population of Kiribati in 2010 was 103,058; there are 50,796 males and 52,262 females. South Tarawa and Betio have populations of 34,427, and 15,755 respectively. Christmas Island in the Line Islands has a population of 5,586. Therefore the total population in the urban centres 61,695.

Kiribati has a total of 16,043 households. Betio has 1977 households, and South Tarawa  alone has a  total of 4,728 households, of which 1,217 houses are owned by the Government or Kiribati Housing Corporation.Followed by Kiritimati with 857 households. Therefore the targeted areas have a total of 7,562 households. Theaverage household size for Kiribati is 6 people, although in South Tarawa, it is higher (7 people).

The table below compares the 2005 population and households with the same data for 2010, and provides a forecast for 2015 and 2020 for the four targeted areas, South Tarawa, Betio and Kiritimati Island. Betio islet is over populated and therefore there is very limited space to  cater for the projected increased population  orhouseholds however the projected increase of population is to be absorbed into South Tarawa.

Table 1: Number and projections of households 2005– 2020

Source: Kiribati 2005, 2010 Census Report and own tabulated projections

5                                   Asian Development Bank, 2009. The Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility – Kiribati Infrastructure Sector Review.

6                                   Revenue Equalisation Reserve Fund (RERF)

2.4                     Environment

Kiribati’s reliance on firewood and kerosene for cooking contributes insignificantly to the carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases responsible for climate change or  global warming. The heavy reliance  on firewood for cooking has made its mark on South Tarawa where about 50% of the population resides.  The high population has increased the stress and pressure on biodiversity including plants and marine life and services such as water, electricity and housing. Coastal erosion is evident in some parts of the island as people continue to mine these resources for construction of houses and for income.

Kiribati does not have many renewable energy sources except solar energy which is abundant and available all year around. Kiribati’s location in the Central Pacific is strongly influenced by adverse changes in weather patterns due to climate change, with El  Nino bringing in  more intense rain and flooding, and the La Nina bringing long dry months and prolonged drought. The last La Nina in 2007–2008 brought drought conditions that continued for 15–16 months.

One of the concerns of the Environment and Conservation Division relates to the content of dioxins and furans, two persistent organic pollutants caused by  burning fuel wood in  coastal or  salty environments,  as in most islands in Kiribati. There are limited studies in  relation to  the emissions of  furans and dioxins in the Pacific or Kiribati; however a regional project is being coordinated by the University of the South Pacific to gather more information and data on these pollutants.

2.5                     Income and poverty levels

The use of kerosene is  correlated with income; for  example, lower income groups tend to  use kerosene  as opposed to LPG. One of the key  issues involved in the switch to  LPG is affordability, that is, the ability  of households to afford the initial capital investment costs for using gas for  cooking and the continuous  high costs of a 13 kilogram gas stove. Poverty is not recognised in Kiribati as particular problem because traditional Kiribati society embraces caring and sharing, with the extended family as a safety net against harsh poverty. However the increasing monetisation of Pacific societies, including Kiribati, and the weakening of traditional society safetynets, are being acknowledged, which has meant a greater awareness of hardship,  if not actual poverty in people’s lives.7 The causes of hardship and poverty centre around the lack of regular and sufficient cash income; poor access to or the poor quality of basic services; and the lack of skills to meet opportunities and challenges as they become available. The 2006 Kiribati Household Income and Expenditure Survey stated that the poorest households are those with low expenditure, which tend to be the largest average households of ten persons per households and therefore the most disadvantaged. The report also stated that on South Tarawa, female-headed households are also slightly more likely to be poor than household headed by a male and female together or that of a male headed household.

Therefore the CLF strategy will need to consider the hardship of obtaining sufficient cash to continue to use LPG rather than kerosene. The switch from LPG to kerosene will exclude households that cannot afford the higher costs of subsidized LPG over subsidized kerosene but will support these households from switch from open fire cooking to the use of efficient biomass stoves.

2.6                     Health

Current health issues in Kiribati include an increasing rate of under-five mortality, and generally a persistent trend in maternal mortality. Concerns also include high levels of fertility connected to  low  contraceptive use especially among young women, which leads to high levels of teenage pregnancy and motherhood. 8 Other issues include prevalence of communicable diseases mainly in South Tarawa with high rates of diabetes, combined risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, obesity and overweight; heavy daily smoking, unbalanceddiet and lack of physical activity further compound the problem.

In relation to cooking fuel and health, studies have shown that the relative risks of heart diseases from burning fuels are much higher in fuel-wood compared with second hand tobacco smoke and outdoor air pollution. Studies have also shown that emissions from gas stoves are much lower than wood and kerosene stoves. In other cases, kerosene had caused loss of lives when houses burnt from kerosene stove accidents. Studies conducted on rural women show a correlation between tuberculosis, lung cancer, blindness and birth defects, and the cooking fuel they were using.

7                                   Kiribati National Statistics Office, March 2010, Analysis of the 2006 Household Income and Expenditure Survey , Kiribati

8                                   Kiribati Development Plan 2012–2015

2.7                     Gender and youth

Gender issues in Kiribati have been predominantly related to domestic and women’s issues with limited work on gender and development or gender mainstreaming into other issues such as climate change or energy. The Women and Development Division is based in the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs; however a new Ministry ofWomen was established in October 2013 after the passing of its Bill in Parliament in August 2013. Kiribati is traditionally a patriarchal society and the role of men in decision making is widely acknowledged at household and community level, especially in the outer islands. Nevertheless women are participating in village and island decision making through their networks, such as village committees or church committees. In politics, three women were selected as members of Parliament. Two women were elected ministers, while the third was recentlyselected to head the recently established Ministry of Women.

Betio village has the highest population of young adults from the ages of 15 to 17 and 18 to 48. The (CFL) Strategy will engage both women and youth in organised groups to be trained in  the delivery and use of  theICS, and also enhanced ventilation, energy efficiency in cooking practices, technologies and utensils.

2.8                     Energy landscape

Progress on KNEP has been challenged due to the lack of an implementation plan. However the key policies in the 2009 National Energy Policy areas are captured in  the  strategies and  key  performance areas  of the Kiribati Development Plan (KDP) 2012–2015. The EPU annual work plan and activities are monitored and aligned to the KDP key performance areas. The energy statistics year book 2000 to 2009 provided a snapshot of the energy end-use consumption for the ten-year period for the Gilbert group only. The data showed that an average of 52% of the primary energy supply is used by  the residential sector, 19%  on road transport, 17% on sea transport, 8% on air transport, 3% for fishing, 2% for government and industrial sector and 1% for  the commercial sector. The primary sources of  energy supply are: biomass (coconut  and palm residues, firewood and waste), imported petroleum, electricity (a secondary form of energy) and solar energy. The residential sector end use activities include heating (boiling) water, drying fish and food crops (copra), cooling (refrigerators and fans) as well as electricity use for lighting at night. The average energy end-use for the residential sector from biomass is 509 TJ, petroleum products (26 TJ),  electricity (22 TJ) and solar energy (1 TJ). The trend in energy end use for the residential sector has shown a steady but continuous increase in use of both biomass and petroleum in the last 10 years.

An increase in population forecasted in 2015 and 2020 respectively for the targeted areas in this strategy, South Tarawa, Betio and Kiritimati, will continue to put pressure on the limited resources, in particular biomass as well as an increase dependency on imported fuel such as kerosene and  LPG. South Tarawa has limited biomass and firewood collection due to urbanisation and the need to cut down trees for houses as well as other developments such as shops and business centres.

2.9                     Cooking fuel uses

Cooking fuels in the targeted areas are dual purpose kerosene (DPK), firewood, copra residues,9 LPG and to a  lesser extend electricity. Kerosene is  predominantly used in  urban areas while biomass or  firewood  is limited in urban areas but abundantly used in rural areas such as North Tarawa. Table 3 sets out the cooking fuels in the targeted areas, but  we  should note that some households use both kerosene or  LPG or kerosene and wood/biomass in the urban areas of South Tarawa and Betio.

9     As a by-product of coconut oil extraction

Table 2: Number of households and cooking fuels in 2010

Source: Kiribati 2010 Census Report

2.10               Cooking fuel energy contents and accessibility

2.11               Efficiency and conservation

There is limited awareness of energy efficiency and conservation relating to cooking practices in Kiribati, which can be seen by the way some households do their cooking. Some of these inefficiencies, illustrated in Figure 1, are:

ӽ    cooking pots are not closed thus taking time for water or food to cook;

ӽ    soot from cooking fuel becomes thick at the bottom or around the pot, so that cooking time increases;

ӽ    cooking flame and heat radiates in all directions when cooking on an open fire, therefore less heat goes directly to the pot.

Figure 1: Typical open fire cooking

Pot lid open

Pot material

Cooking flame and heat radiating in all directions

Incomplete combustion – yellow and smoky flames

It is estimated that efficient cooking technologies can also reduce the amount of fuel needed to cook or boil water and therefore reduce costs or spending. Table 3 compares the efficiency and the cost of the cooking technologies that are available in Kiribati. An ICS is more efficient compared with cooking on an open fire.

Table 3: Efficiency and costs of cooking technologies

* www.snvworld.org 2.European Economic Community, Statistical Office of the European Communities

*The cost of kerosene is subsidies and controlled at 0.95 cents

In the Kiribati context, kerosene use is  the least expensive compared with other cooking fuels, because  the cost of kerosene is subsidised. The true cost of importing and distributing kerosene is calculated at AUD 1.25. More information on the costs and benefits of using LPG is provided in the policy brief paper. Titled, An economic analysis of Kerosene subsidy policy reform  –  Towards  promoting sustainable LPG use in Kiribati.

3.            INSTITUTIONAL, POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS

3.1                     Institutional framework

3.1.1   Stakeholders10 benefits and targets

10                               The specific roles of stakeholders in this strategy, and types of impacts they anticipate in its development and implementation.

* The specific roles of stakeholders in this strategy, and types of impacts they anticipate in its development and implementation.

The project implementation partners’ structure is set out in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Cooking for Life strategy implementation structure

Donors and development partners, SPC - Technical Assistance

NGO ( to implement ICS and SLL strategies - a model to create income generating activity for youth and women)

Community Based Organistions (youth and women

Project Steering Committee (PSC) - Secretariat hosted at the EPU - provides technical advisory, project management and coordination and

reporting to development partners/donors and Cabinet

KOIL

(to implement LPG strategies including technical training)

Ministry of Women/ Environment/Health - public awareness on the benefits (health, environment and safety to the public)

Private Sector (to import ICS and SLL)

LPG retailers and distributors

KHC (for pilot study - 100 starter kits disbursement

Members of the PSC

- Environment, Health, NGO, Ministry of Women, Betio Town Council, Teinainano Urban Council, Private Sector, KHC, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperation

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives - removal of kerosene subsidy or control price or VAT on cooking stoves - gas , ICS and SLL

Private Sector - gas stove importers

3.2                     Policy framework

3.2.1   Regional Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific

The regional Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific Islands is relevant to national strategies, because it includes indicators that can be monitored nationally. One of the energy security indicators is access to modern energy services, under two categories: access to a modern energy source for lighting/ electricity, and access to modern energy for cooking. Modern forms of cooking include electricity use, LPG, and energy efficient biomass stoves. Kerosene and traditional open fire cooking are categorised as traditional forms of cooking due to their inefficiency and harmful health impacts

SPC data collated in 2009 show that compared with other PICTs, Kiribati has a low percentage of households with access to modern energy for  cooking (30%). Figure 3  compares access to  modern forms of  cooking in the fourteen PICTs in 2009.

Figure 3: Comparing access to modern forms of cooking among PICTs in 2009

3.2.2   Kiribati Development Plan

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is the overall reporting ministry on the Kiribati Development Plan (KDP) progress, and coordinates implementation by respective ministries and departments.

The KDP 2012–2015 approved by Cabinet in 2012 has six key performance areas (KPAs):

ӽ      KPA 1: Human Resources Development

ӽ      KPA 2: Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction

ӽ      KPA 3: Health

ӽ      KPA 4:  Environment ӽ       KPA 5:  Governance ӽ KPA 6:Infrastructure

The KDP does not have specific strategies relating to the use and promotion of cleaner cooking fuel and ICS. KPA 6 mentions the energy sector and focuses on the  need to  increase fuel storage capacity and  bulk purchasing, and to encourage the  use  of  renewable energy. Energy efficiency on  the  demand side of management is mentioned as an important strategy, and this may be relevant to the efficient cooking technologies, cooking utensils, efficient practices and more efficient fuel sources for cooking.

However in mainstreaming the focus of this strategy on KDP, the relevant areas are economic growth and poverty reduction, health and environment. More explanation is provided below.

3.2.3   Kiribati National Energy Policy

KNEP was endorsed by Cabinet in 2009. KNEP has a vision of ‘available, accessible, reliable, affordable, clean and sustainable energy options for the enhancement of economic growth and improvement of livelihoods in Kiribati’

KNEP’s main policy themes are:

1. policy, planning and coordination; 2.power;
2. outer islands and rural electrification; 4.petroleum;

5. efficiency and conservation; 6.renewable energy;

7.      environment; 8.transport.

CFL strategy is aligned with KNEP thematic areas: policy planning and coordination and environment. Further details on the CFL’s links to KNEP policy outcomes are discussed in Section 4: CFL Strategy Framework. KNEP is implemented by EPU.

3.3                     Legislative framework

3.3.1   Environment Act 1999 and its Amendment 2007

The Environment Act does not prohibit the use of open fire cooking, and no bylaws prohibit such activity. Under the Act, only prescribed activities or developments should apply for development consent. The Environment Act is administered by the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development. The Division is responsible for implementing the Kiribati Integrated Environment Policy endorsed in June 2013 and recently launched in September.

3.3.2   Petroleum Act 1970

The Petroleum Act 1970 is very out-dated as the metric units used do not conform to current practices. For example, the Act mentions the measurement of petroleum in gallons, although current practice is in litres. The Act has no specific provisions for proper guidelines for storage of LPG. There is a need to review the Act to reflect the need to increase the use of LPG on South Tarawa, Betio and outer islands. KOIL was established in 1987 under the Kiribati Oil Company Ltd (Special provisions) Act 1987 and is  responsible  for supplying and distributing petroleum products including LPG. The EPU administers the Petroleum Act, including issuing licences, storage, and inspections of fuel storage.

3.3.3   Customs Act 2005

The Customs Act 2005 relates to the collection and management of customs duties in Kiribati. The Customs Act isadministered by the Kiribati Customs Service of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

The Act allows for duty exemptions on kerosene stoves and LPG gas  stoves. Pressure cookers have  a duty rateof 30%. LPG imports have a duty rate of 35% while kerosene for household use is tax exempted.

Kerosene for aviation has a duty rate of 0.7 cents a litre. The Customs Act is being revised to reflect affect the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) 11 of 12.5% on consumed products.

The levy of this tax may increase the price of kerosene and LPG, as well as the cost of the stoves.

3.3.4   Price Ordinance (Amendment) Act 1981

The Price Ordinance (Amendment) Act 1981 empowers the Minister to make orders regulating the price ofcertain commodities that are listed in the Schedule in which includes kerosene and benzene are included. Discussions on accessibility proposed the need to control or monitor the cost of LPG stoves to make them more affordable. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives administers the Price Ordinance and its regulations. Items or commodities currently covered under the legislation are flour, sugar,  rice,  baby food, tobacco, exercise books, bar soap, mosquito netting, benzene, kerosene, Oil No. 50 , bicycles, (i.e., adult bicycles) and batteries. There is no VAT in Kiribati, however a proposal for VAT has been tabled in Cabinet andcurrently there kerosene is also exempted from VAT.

11                             The imposition of VAT should be taken as an opportunity to address deficiencies in the custom tariff as it relates to energyefficiency and poverty; exemption and zero rating policies should be considered.

4.             COOKING FOR LIFE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK

4.1                     KNEP vision12

‘Available, accessible, reliable, affordable, clean and sustainable energy options for the enhancement of economic growth and improvement of livelihoods in Kiribati’

4.2                     CFL outcome

Economic growth and improvement of livelihoods

4.3                     CFL broad goal

By 2020, 75% of households in urban centres have access to modern sources of energy for cooking13 and 100% of households use ICS for cooking.

4.4                     Rationale for the strategy

The Strategy is being developed as part of CFL initiative which encompasses the promotion and use of cleaner and efficient fuel and cooking technology. LPG is recognised as  a  clean and efficient fuel while  the improved biomass cook stove (ICS) is an efficient cooking technology.

In 2013, EPU requested SPC to assist with the promotion of  appropriate ICS, mainly in  the urban centres as some households are still using biomass for cooking. The 2010 census reported that 52% of households were using biomass and copra residue for cooking since firewood is free and copra residue is more affordable compared to kerosene. However with an increasing population mainly in South Tarawa with a population density of 3,000 people per square metre, proper planning of  efficient use of  scarce resources such as fuel wood and copra residue is crucial.

Some of the barriers that have hindered the use of LPG stoves and ICS were identified and collated during a national workshop and focus group discussions held in November 2013. These barriers are discussed below:

12                                Aligned to the vision of KNEP, CFL strategy is part of KNEP implementation

13                                Modern sources of cooking are LPG use and improved biomass stoves (ICS) and urban centers are South Tarawa, Betio andKiritimati.

The strategy aim is  to  provide solutions to  these challenges with the intention of  meeting the targets    on increasing LPG use and ICS to 50% of households by 2015 and 75% by 2020 respectively. The risks associatedwith implementing this CFL and mitigation activities is further provided in Annex 4.

Kerosene is the dominant source of cooking fuel in South Tarawa and Betio as depicted in the latest census report while firewood use has remained steady from 2000 to 2009. 14 However the 2010 census does not record whether a household uses one or two sources of cooking fuel. During the consultation with local people, it was noted that most households use at least two sources of cooking fuel such as LPG with kerosene or kerosene with firewood. The most common cooking fuel is kerosene use followed by firewood use mainly for boiling water and preparing of pig food.

CFL initiative may be seen as contradictory to the region’s effort to  reduce reliance on  fossil fuel since  CFL promotes the use of LPG. CFL should result in just about the same level of reliance since it is only       a substitution of kerosene with LPG. The CFL initiative will however improve access to cleaner fossil fuel and make cooking a much safer, cleaner and healthier undertaking. Any increase in emissions from any increase in LPG use should be offset by an increase in greenhouse gas absorption due to the decrease in cutting down trees for fuel wood. Thus as well as increasing use of LPG, there is a  need to  increase the use of efficient biomass cook stove (ICS) to reduce the cutting down of trees for cooking fuel and therefore absorption of CO2.

14                               Kiribati Energy Statistics 2000–2009.

4.5                     Baseline and targets

The CFL targets is based on the understanding that firewood and kerosene use is increasing in urban areas, mainly in South Tarawa and Betio. The strategy is to reduce the use of kerosene and open fire cooking with the following targets.

* The 2010 census showed that only 25% of households in the targeted areas use LPG for cooking.

* i.e., in 2015 an estimate of 4000 households will use LPG for cooking.

5.   COOKING FOR LIFE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The following strategies and activities were identified through in-country consultations during September 2013, later presented at a focus group meeting with relevant stakeholders in January 2014.

ANNEXES

The capital cost required to implement CFL is presented in the tables below, including the stakeholders  and their roles and possible donors.

Annex 1: Investment required to support LPG use for cooking

Annex 2: Promoting and using solar LED lights

Annex 3: Investment required to support improved cook stove

Annex 4: Risks and mitigation

Annex 5: Organisations consulted

Australian High Commissioner

Mr George Fraser High Commissioner Tarawa, Kiribati

Betio Town Council Mr Romano Reo Mayor

Embassy of the Republic of Taiwan to the Republic of Kiribati Mr Edisson Hsue

Third Secretary

FSPK

Ms Ruiti Aretaake

Child Centered Climate Change Adaptation 4CA

Green Energy Solutions Mautaake Tannang Manager

Kiribati Copra Mill Company Ltd

Paul Tekanene

Chief Executive Officer

Kiribati Chamber of Commerce

Tamaroa Teebaki Member

Kiribati Customs Service, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning

Comptroller of Customs Mr Tekaie Ititaake Comptroller  of Customs

Kiribati Housing Corporation Mr Tomwa Baitika Tehumu Chief Executive Officer

Kiribati Institute of Technology

Mr Rokobati Tearo Principal

Mr Mikaere Tioro Carpenter Lecturer

Kiribati Oil Company

Mr Aree Redfern

Chief Executive Officer

Tiiroa Antonia Administration Officer

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development

Environnent & Conservation Division Ms Marii Marae

Environment Inspector

Ms Tekimwau Otiawa Climate  Change officer

Ministry of Health – Environment Health Services

Chief Health Inspector

Ministry of Women & Social Affairs

Women Development Division Ms Anne Kautu

Senior Women’s Development Officer

Tekimwau Kanona

Outer Islands Liaison Officer

Ministry of Works Public and Utilities

Tamaroa Tekeiaki

Senior Assistant Secretary

Kireua Kaiea Energy Planner

Tiaon Aukitino

Energy Project Engineering

Miriam Tikana

Assistant Energy PlannerMwaati Oten Assistant Energy Project Engineering

Katirongo Tureen Assistant IT

Kaiea Burentarawa Energy Planning Unit

MOEL

Mary Kum Kee Purchasing

New Zealand Aid to Kiribati

Ms Kate Cushing

Urban Development Coordinator

PUNJAS

Bimlesh Prasad Operations Officer

Contact details