Effects that Charcoal Briquette Production Bring to Africa

Charcoal briquette is an important commodity in Africa. It is a hugely important source of cooking energy in cities and a major product of national and regional trade, and thus important to rural livelihoods. And, the charcoal briquette also bring a great influence to Africa in many aspects, such as the economic development, the employment and the damages to the forests and environments.

Charcoal briquette production and trade contributes to the national economy by providing rural incomes, tax revenue and employment. 

Firstly, charcoal briquette production is one of the major income sources for rural people in most countries in Africa such as Tanzania and Mozambique. Even in Zambia it is virtually the only source of income after the collapse of the agricultural market.

On the other hand, many projects about set charcoal briquette factory in Africa have been implemented. And this will must create many job opportunities for the local people. A large number of people are employed in the various phases of the charcoal briquette value chain, including: collection sizing of wood; preparation of charcoal kilns; packaging and transportation. In October 2012, the project of “Scaling-Up of Charcoal Briquette Production in Tanzania” have began. This project is funded by the governments of Finland, Austria, United Kingdom and hosted by the Development Bank of Southern Africa. And the project will take place in Bayamo District,Coast Region and will be carried out over a period of 12 months. This provides opportunities to local people to earn money. 

The mainly charcoal briquette in Africa are produced in the traditional methods. And this have caused large area of forests felled. And that will further cause soil erosion, reduced nitrogen content in the ground, loss of water, and loss of soil productivity. This is particularly true in direr areas where regenerative capacity of forests is lower and unmanaged. Charcoal briquette production can accelerate desertification. Tanzania has lost approximately 15% of its forest cover and more than 37% of its forest and wood land habitat.

Another kind of material for the charcoal briquette production in Africa can be the agricultural waste. And recycling them to produce charcoal instead of burning them directly will reduce air pollution and protect environment to a certain degree. Kenya generates about 1.6 million tones of sugarcane bagasse which could be utilized for the formulation of charcoal briquettes for household use to supplement wood fuel. The bulk of bagasse from all factories is considered an environmental hazard and a probable source of factory fires. But, the charcoal briquette produced by them are smokeless, easy ignite and produce no irritating smell.