Charcoal substitutes to reduce deforestation
BIOMASS briquettes, which can be used instead of charcoal, have been developed to stem environmental degradation caused by deforestation.<br>Briquettes are manufactured using agricultural wastes such as husks of coffee, rice, wheat, groundnuts and sawdust.
By Aidah Nanyonjo
BIOMASS briquettes, which can be used instead of charcoal, have been developed to stem environmental degradation caused by deforestation.
Briquettes are man
ufactured using agricultural wastes such as husks of coffee, rice, wheat, groundnuts and sawdust.
The wastes are put in a machine that mixes and compresses them to produce briquettes.
Abasi Kazibwe, the proprietor of Kampala Jellitone Suppliers who produces the briquettes, says they can only be used in briquette stoves. The stoves are either portable or fixed, depending on the customer. They are insulated, so there is no heat and smoke emission, making them environmentally friendly.
A kilogramme of briquettes costs sh200 while 40kg cost sh8,000 compared to a 30kg sack of charcoal that costs sh20,000.
“When briquettes are properly used, one can save up to 25% and 40% of the money spent on firewood and charcoal respectively and above 50%with gas and electricity,†Kazibwe says.
Using briquettes saves the environment in two ways.
First, they are an alternative to firewood and charcoal. Secondly, the technology has increased agricultural waste utilisation, hence a cleaner environment.
The garbage is collected from Bwaise, Kalerwe and Nakawa, while the husks are collected wherever agricultural produce is grown.
Kazibwe was prompted to try other fuel alternatives after his processing plant, which produces Nguvu coffee, faced challenges.
“When increasing fuel prices and the deforestation levels in the country infringed on my profits, I resolved to look for other fuel alternatives. That was in 1992,†he says.
DANIDA sponsored a pilot-project where several tests on agricultural wastes were carried out before coming up with briquettes.
The greatest challenge is finding market. “Being a new technology, resistance is inevitable from both the buyers and the sellers of firewood and charcoal,†Kazibwe says.
BIOMASS briquettes, which can be used instead of charcoal, have been developed to stem environmental degradation caused by deforestation.
Briquettes are man
ufactured using agricultural wastes such as husks of coffee, rice, wheat, groundnuts and sawdust.
The wastes are put in a machine that mixes and compresses them to produce briquettes.
Abasi Kazibwe, the proprietor of Kampala Jellitone Suppliers who produces the briquettes, says they can only be used in briquette stoves. The stoves are either portable or fixed, depending on the customer. They are insulated, so there is no heat and smoke emission, making them environmentally friendly.
A kilogramme of briquettes costs sh200 while 40kg cost sh8,000 compared to a 30kg sack of charcoal that costs sh20,000.
“When briquettes are properly used, one can save up to 25% and 40% of the money spent on firewood and charcoal respectively and above 50%with gas and electricity,†Kazibwe says.
Using briquettes saves the environment in two ways.
First, they are an alternative to firewood and charcoal. Secondly, the technology has increased agricultural waste utilisation, hence a cleaner environment.
The garbage is collected from Bwaise, Kalerwe and Nakawa, while the husks are collected wherever agricultural produce is grown.
Kazibwe was prompted to try other fuel alternatives after his processing plant, which produces Nguvu coffee, faced challenges.
“When increasing fuel prices and the deforestation levels in the country infringed on my profits, I resolved to look for other fuel alternatives. That was in 1992,†he says.
DANIDA sponsored a pilot-project where several tests on agricultural wastes were carried out before coming up with briquettes.
The greatest challenge is finding market. “Being a new technology, resistance is inevitable from both the buyers and the sellers of firewood and charcoal,†Kazibwe says.