TotalEnergies has announced a partnership with DelAgua to distribute improved cookstoves to 200,000 households in Rwanda over the next year. The initiative aims to support Rwanda’s goal of providing clean cooking solutions for all citizens by 2030.
With financial backing from TotalEnergies, DelAgua will supply high-performance cookstoves that are expected to benefit more than 800,000 people living in rural areas. These stoves reduce harmful smoke emissions by 81% and lower wood consumption by 71% compared to traditional open fires. Over the next decade, the project is projected to prevent more than 2.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that more than 2.3 billion people globally lack access to clean cooking options and rely on traditional fuels such as wood, charcoal, kerosene, coal, or animal dung. Providing clean cooking solutions can improve air quality and health outcomes, reduce time spent collecting fuel—often up to twenty hours per week—and help address gender inequality by enabling women greater access to education and employment opportunities. Additionally, universal adoption of clean cooking could save up to 1.5 billion tons of CO2 equivalent emissions worldwide by 2030.
Carbon credits generated from this project will be acquired by TotalEnergies and certified initially by VERRA, with plans for future recognition under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement Credit Mechanism once operational. Starting in 2030, these credits will be used voluntarily by TotalEnergies to offset part of its remaining direct Scope 1 & 2 emissions after prioritizing emission avoidance and reduction.
Arnaud Le Foll, Senior Vice-President New Business – Carbon Neutrality at TotalEnergies stated: “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 added: “This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when innovation, integrity, and collaboration come together. 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.”
TotalEnergies operates as an integrated global energy company involved in oil and biofuels production as well as natural gas and renewable energy sources across about 120 countries. DelAgua is a social enterprise focused on large-scale carbon development projects targeting rural communities in Africa who cannot otherwise afford clean cooking transitions.
