PressCane Takes Ethanol from Factory Floor to Malawian Kitchens

(United Nations Development Programme Malawi) PressCane has a combined annual production capacity of 27 million litres of fuel ethanol, pharmaceutical-grade ethanol and hydrous ethanol. -- In Malawi’s clean energy transition, the cooking fire remains one of the most urgent frontlines. Across many urban and peri-urban households, charcoal and firewood continue to dominate domestic cooking, contributing to deforestation, household air pollution and rising pressure on the country’s forests.

PressCane Limited is working to change that story. Through ethanol-based cooking solutions, the Chikwawa-based company is helping introduce a cleaner, safer and more sustainable alternative for Malawian households. Since October 2025, 566 households have purchased ethanol stoves, each one replacing traditional charcoal or firewood use and contributing to reduced pressure on forests and improved indoor air quality.

With support from UNDP through the Green Economic Transition Facility (GETF), PressCane procured 1,845 ethanol cooking stoves from Hungary and China. The company also purchased a transport vehicle, which is now being used to distribute ethanol through a growing network of 12 distributors in Zomba, Blantyre and Chikwawa.

The company has also recruited two sales supervisors, one based in Zomba and one in Blantyre, to strengthen market presence, customer support and distribution.

PressCane’s clean cooking innovation builds on its core business as one of Malawi’s leading ethanol producers. Established in 2004 and based in Chikwawa, the company produces fuel ethanol, industrial ethanol and is commissioning pharmaceutical-grade ethanol production.

PressCane has an installed combined annual production capacity of 27 million litres of fuel ethanol, pharmaceutical-grade ethanol and hydrous ethanol, although current average production is around 20 million litres due to limited feedstock.

In Malawi’s clean energy transition, change begins where it matters most — in the kitchen.

The company’s clean cooking project seeks to commercialise technical-grade ethanol as domestic cooking fuel, starting with urban markets that are heavily dependent on charcoal and firewood. One PressCane fully commissions its pharmaceutical-grade ethanol plant, it expects to produce 375,000 litres of technical-grade ethanol annually, which could be equivalent to saving 9,188 tonnes of wood fuel per year.

This makes the project more than a business expansion. It is a practical response to Malawi’s clean cooking challenge.

To further expand access, PressCane has entered into a strategic agreement with TotalEnergies Malawi, which is expected to establish between 20 and 30 ethanol selling points by the end of June. This distribution network is critical because clean cooking transitions depend not only on the availability of stoves, but also on reliable, affordable and accessible fuel.

The project is also creating opportunities along the value chain. PressCane’s distribution model targets youth and women entrepreneurial groups through the management of distribution kiosks, with the initiative expected to create over 100 jobs between Blantyre and Zomba.

Through GETF, UNDP has supported the procurement of ethanol stoves and a transport vehicle, while also providing technical assistance to strengthen environmental compliance.

Beyond market expansion, PressCane has also taken steps to strengthen environmental compliance and improve waste management. Following previous effluent spillage incidents, the company conducted a root cause analysis and implemented 19 corrective actions. These included 12 recommendations from the National Water Resources Authority and seven from the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority.

The company has redesigned its pond system so that each pond functions independently, preventing the pressure build-up that caused the original spillage. This has strengthened safeguards around production and demonstrates the importance of pairing green business growth with responsible environmental management.

UNDP’s support through GETF has contributed to the procurement of stoves and the transport vehicle, as well as technical support for environmental compliance. PressCane has also initiated discussions with the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences to support local innovators and explore the possibility of local manufacturing of ethanol stoves.

For households that have already made the switch, the impact is immediate: less smoke, less charcoal dependence and a cleaner way to cook. For Malawi, the broader opportunity is even bigger. PressCane is showing how local enterprise, clean energy innovation and strategic partnerships can help move the country towards a future where cooking no longer comes at the cost of forests, health and household wellbeing. READ MORE