The current situation and perspectives

Current situation

• Positive development of the project since its start in 2001.
• Great demand for the solar cooker.
• By the end of May 2008, 3100 solar cookers had been sold at a fair price to the population.
• ADES has developed into a small non-profit enterprise. ADES currently provides a work place for 32 permanent employees in Tuléar, Ejeda and Morondava in the South-West of Madagscar.
• The solar cooker project is a long-term project.
• ADES is both locally and nationally well known.
• The state also supports the project.
• The provincial government in Tuléar has chosen ADES as a partner to encourage renewable energy in the province of Tuléar (which is four times as big as Switzerland).
• ADES works closely with various cooperation partners.

Long term perspectives and the future direction of ADES

• Increased sensibilisation of the population on the use of solar cookers, both in rural and urban areas. ADES also supports schools by training teachers on environment-related issues.
• Increased introduction of parabolic solar cookers and energy saving ovens. The latter is an energy efficient cooking tool for preparing breakfast in the morning, when the solar cooker cannot be used.
• A long-term education programme in the usage of the solar cooker for the population in both the country as well as the city.
• Continue to motivate schools, missionary stations, hospitals, homes etc. to integrate the solar cooker into their programs.
• Continuous cooperation with partners that are involved with other similar projects.
• Continued careful development of the project taking the financial and organisational structures into account.
• Focus on the South of Madagascar.
• The vision: Within 20-40 years a large part of the population in the South should predominantly be using the solar cooker to prepare their food.
• Solar electricity for education: ADES carries out several pilot projects to provide villages with minimal electrification. Thanks to solar electricity (photovoltaics), each household will be able to use 1-2 lamps and a radio.

Continuous activities

• We are planning to build another regional center in the south (Anosy or Antandroy region, about 350 km south-east from Tuléar, close to Fort Dauphin).
• The centre will be based on the same concept as the one in Tuléar. For each regional centre the construction of 2-3 local stations is planned in order to reduce the level of transportation on the poor roads. The solar cookers will be introduced to the surrounding villages via the local stations.

The time for these initiatives seems to be right as the population has realized the preciousness of Madagascar's natural treasure to attract tourists and therefore wishes to increase gentle tourism. Environmental protection and the measures against deforestation also have a high priority in the government’s programme for 2007-2012. Furthermore, government and World Bank actively support several aid projects aiming to halt deforestation. Moreover, continuously increasing wood and charcoal prices reinforce the need for and attractiveness of cookers and other energy efficient cooking methods.