POCA retailers identified
A retailer workshop for retailers of the POCA stove was held in Maputo on the 18th May. More than 20 people attended the meeting at the Hotel Mocambicano. Several businessmen showed interest in selling the POCA stove and the challenge for the factory, Ceramica Termica, is to make sure that the initial contacts translate into commitments with retailers.
PETROMOC is set to become the first institutional retailer for the POCA stove. Discussions between Ceramica Termica, the POCA producer, and the PETROMOC are progressing at a good rhythm for the distribution of POCA stoves at the petrol stations convenience stores. A first lot of between 300 and 400 stoves will be made available to PETROMOC towards the ending of May and will be available for purchase by clients in June 2010.

National Energy Fund commits to continuing ProBEC post-2010
FUNAE, the National Energy Fund, has given the green light for the signing of a memorandum of understanding with GTZ-ProBEC in order to guarantee the sustainability of current ProBEC operations after the end of the project in December 2010. FUNAE has been appointed by the Government of Mozambique to take over ProBEC activities from 2011. FUNAE was already involved in the planning of ProBEC operations in 2010 and it is a permanent member of the project steering committee.

POCA marketing hits a high note
The POCA stove has been in the news with an interview with the NC on the Deustche Welle and the Maputo Radio Corridor in May.

Technical training for ProBEC partners continues
Technical staff and 9 producers were trained in the production, quality control, kitchen and fire management and monitoring and evaluation plus marketing techniques in the provinces of Maputo and Gaza.  These fall under the auspices of the ProBEC’s partner organisation, Kulima. The same course was held for three technical staff, two activists and 10 producers from the province of Inhambane from the 10th to the 14th of May.
 
Impact Assessment surveys conducted in rural areas
Data collection for the impact assessment of household stoves was done in Manica province, in the districts of Manica, Sussundenga, Vanduzi, Gondola and Chimoio. At least 200 households were covered. Preliminary results show that the stoves are being produced and used in many households, but the producers are facing problems with marketing. It is difficult to locate portable stoves since most of them are bought by passersby or retailers.