Instead of using liquefied petroleum gas, in cooking their foods, residents of Leyte turn to environment- friendly stove that uses plant oil as fuel.
Protos, a locally-manufactured environment-friendly technology first noticed by Germany-based Company BSH Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances Group, can run coconut oil which emits lo9wer carbon monoxide. Other suitable plants are palm, sunflower, castor, corn, soybean and jatropha.
The stove, which is almost the same as gas stove, consists of a tank, pump, frame, value, fuel line and a vaporizer originally made at the University of Hohenheim and acquired by BSH in Germany.
Protos has been tested by 100 households in selected areas in Leyte, which yielded a monthly average of 11.64 liters per month of plant oil consumption at a daily cooking time of 1.53 hours.
Six small restaurants at the VSU (Visayas State University) market also tested the device and consumed an average of about 28 liters per month at an average daily cooking time of 5.24 hours.
Dr. Roberto C. Guarte said that commercial production of the plant oil stove can provide Net Present Value of P666, 017 and Internal Rate of Return of 25% and Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.02.
This can help create jobs in the rural areas, provide income to the poor, and cooperatives with additional profits, hence bringing not only environmental, but also economic and social benefits.