Dr. Rajabu's Visit

For the past week, we have had the fortune to host Dr. Rajabu and his graduate student, Masoud, on campus in Hanover. Dr. Rajabu is a professor of engineering at the University of Dar es Salaam. He has worked on improved cook stove technologies and other biomass energy projects for many years and serves as an invaluable resource for our group. Ever since DHE’s first trip to Tanzania, Dr. Rajabu has worked closely with DHE students to develop our stove designs and survey different regions of the country. Masoud is finishing up his graduate degree in engineering. For his dissertation, he researched how to optimize the efficiency of the coffee husk stove design DHE has distributed in the Kigoma region. Our time with Dr. Rajabu and Masoud over the past week has enabled us to further develop our technologies and learn more about working in Arusha and Kigoma. 

During the first day, Dr. Rajabu discussed his recent biomass survey of Tanzania to give us an overview of the wide variety of biomass technologies which are currently used. He explained that agricultural processing centers often burn huge mounds of plant wastes to dispose of the material. However coffee husks and other types of biomass are an abundant and usually free fuel which can be processed into briquettes and pellets or burned directly in some stoves.

Since one of our primary goals in Arusha will be to connect with local NGOs, we were extremely grateful for Dr. Rajabu’s suggestions for potential NGO partners. Currently, Dr. Rajabu is collaborating with Mr. Laustsen and the NGO Partners for Development (PFD) in developing, producing, and distributing the “Jiko Bomba” stove which burns pellets made of Jatropha cake. Dr. Rajabu highly recommended that we meet with PFD and Mr. Laustsen during our time in Arusha. Furthermore, Dr. Rajabu encouraged us to research business incubation programs which provide support services to groups of entrepreneurs whose businesses are interconnected and centered around a given industry.

Furthermore, it was particularly exciting to show Dr. Rajabu and Masoud our current coffee husk stove design. Both braved the cold Hanover weather as we did some practice burns with sawdust and coffee husk outside. Dr. Rajabu commented that there was too much primary air, so we covered up some of the holes on the bottom grate with aluminum foil and continued to experiment. The practice burns with Dr. Rajabu and Masoud over the past few days inspired James to make some exciting new stove design modifications. Additionally, we enjoyed showing them our new indoor air pollution (IAP) meter from Aprovecho Stove Research Center. This compact device measures the levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter emitted. Masoud commented that such a device would have been very helpful as he was performing his research.

On Saturday morning, Dr. Rajabu gave a presentation about his stove testing and work on the “Jiko Bomba” stove to about ten past and prospective DHE travelers. This was followed by a lively question and answer session in which the group discussed some of the challenges associated with implementing an improved cook stove program. Dr. Rajabu emphasized that having an improved cook stove increases a family’s fuel security. While a family may prefer to use their three-stone stove for preparing certain meals or heating and lighting a room, an improved cook stove gives them additional options depending on the cost and types of fuels and biomass available. Ultimately the success of an improved cook stove depends on the cook’s acceptance of the stove, so the social and cultural aspects of a stove distribution program are extremely important.

On Tuesday evening, the Thayer School hosted a dinner for Dr. Rajabu and Masoud. It was a wonderful opportunity for past travelers to reconnect with Dr. Rajabu, as well as a chance for new DHE members to meet him and  hear entertaining travel stories from past travelers. Afterwards, Dr. Rajabu gave a short talk on stove testing to the students attending the DHE general member meeting. The Tanzania project group and the spring travelers, in particular, were extremely grateful for the opportunity to spend a week with Dr. Rajabu and Masoud!