Factors affecting households’ choice of cooking energy in Enugu State, Nigeria

Households need energy for various activities, chief among these is cooking, which accounts for a greater percentage of the total domestic energy consumption. In Nigeria, household cooking energy accounts for a major part of the total energy consumed. This study was designed to explore the determinants of cooking energy use and preferences among households in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the aims of the study were; to ascertain the differences in the quantities of cooking energy sources used by households, determine the preferences of each of the energy sources by the households, reasons for preferences for each of the energy sources, and the problems associated with the use of each of the energy source. Multistage sampling technique was adopted in this study. One hundred and sixty-six respondents were used for the study. Primary data were collected and analyzed using a t-test and descriptive statistics. Results showed that the mean quantities of kerosene used in the rural and urban areas were about 26 and 36 litres per month that of fuel wood were about 231 and 306 kg, respectively. The t-test result showed that there exist significant differences between the quantities of kerosene and fuel wood used in the rural and urban areas. The likert-type scale result showed that the cooking energy with the highest perceived level of efficiency was liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while the energy with the highest level of preference was kerosene. The major reasons for the preference for LPG was because it cooks fast and clean, that of kerosene was lower chances of fire accident than LPG. For fuel wood, preference was due to fast cooking and better taste of food, while that of charcoal was due to clean cooking and reduced cases of fire accident. The major constraints militating against the use of different cooking energy sources, even when they are  preferred, were scarcity, expensiveness and risk of fire outbreak for LPG and kerosene, while for fuel wood and charcoal, they were pollution and  the fact that it produces a lot of black soot. There is need to implement incentive-based policies to encourage the use of LPG and kerosene, through targeted subsidies and cost reduction. Key words: energy consumption, efficiency, preference, pollution, income