KOKO Networks invests in Saarus to commercially roll out ethanol cookstoves in Africa

In Kenya, KOKO Networks Ltd. announced a strategic investment in Saarus Innovations Pvt. Ltd., a product design and manufacturing company headquartered in Ahmedabad, India.

KOKO and Saarus have collaborated closely in recent years. In particular, Saarus helped design, develop and manufacture KOKO’s patent-pending bio-ethanol powered cookstove, which was commercially piloted in selected neighborhoods of Nairobi in 2017. The cookstoves are being manufactured in India, but are being commercially rolled out in East Africa, starting in Kenya

The full commercial roll-out of KOKO’s clean fuel distribution network will commence in Kenya in 2019 in partnership with Vivo Energy (which distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants across Africa).

One of the first investments through the expanded partnership is the development of a 60,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Gujarat, India, for mass production of KOKO’s next generation bio-ethanol cookstove for export to multiple markets across Africa from early 2019.