Fueling Change

Category: Alternative energy | Date: May 26 2008 | By: endingcharcoal

Can something as simple as a briquette made from grass and leaves make a difference in the survival of the mountain gorilla? The answer is a resounding YES!! We have been busy working on finding alternatives to the forest charcoal being produced deep in mountain gorilla habitat. As you may know, charcoal production is decimating the last populations of mountain gorillas.

I just got back from a 3-day briquette making seminar with Richard and Joyce Stanley of the Legacy Foundation. They have been “briquetting” for 17 years and have led the introduction of biomass briquettes all over Africa. As yet, they haven’t been to Congo, but are happy to see that WildlifeDirect is leading the charge.

My biggest concern has been whether or not the people of the Congo will accept the briquettes. As you know, old habits die hard. After cooking a meal for 10 people using just a metal pan as a stove, I gained a new confidence in the viability of the biomass briquettes. For starters, have a look at the following pictures of the briquettes being burned:

Start-up: First we got a little pile of kindling going and then set the briquettes on top with the holes facing upward (this is about 5 minutes after lighting). To make up for not having air holes in the bottom of the stove, we propped the briquettes up on pebbles to allow for air flow. We also positioned the briquettes close together, which helps them burn better.

15 minutes out: Very HOT and burning without visible smoke.

“The PhD is in the finger tips…”
That’s Richard’s mantra. Perhaps the biggest challenge to the briquette maker is getting the mix right. This is where science becomes an art. The first step is to gather all of the “green” biomass that is going to be part of the briquette. Only charcoal fines and sawdust are ready to go “as is”. Everything else must be gathered, dried, ground or thrashed, and composted. The composting is the big challenge because it can sit around and seem to be doing nothing, and then all of a sudden, take off. The time between being at a standstill and turning into ash can be a matter of 24-48 hours. So, the briquetter must pay close attention, knowing when the mix is kicking into high gear and then stopping it before it starts to turn into soil — or worse, into ash. A perfectly composted mix will feel woody and granular, not muddy. It’s all in the feel. There is no setting a timer. Once the compost is ready, it’s time to make the briquette “slop”. Getting the proportions right is again, by feel. Once sawdust and small amounts of shredded and soaked paper have been added (if available), it’s time to test the mixture. Here are the steps:

Squeeze the mix

Open the hand: the mix should form into a mass and leave the imprint of your hand.

Hold the squeezed mass vertically and gently shake it. It should not fall apart. It’s easier to see the imprint of my fingers in this shot.

Press the material. A good mix will hold its shape perfectly. The corners will be sharp and the briquette will come out of the mold without breaking apart.

The beauty in these briquettes is that they are made from what has been considered, up to this point, waste. Furthermore, the material is available locally, so there are virtually no transportation costs. And, once the burn characteristics of the briquettes are understood, they burn very similarly to charcoal. If introduced to the marketplace properly, the presence of biomass briquettes should dramatically reduce the consumption of illegal forest charcoal. That’s good for mountain gorillas and people alike.