Peter Wamboga-Mugirya--UGANDA: This is a novel idea for which I urge Uganda Government to allocate resources/co-fund, as soon as possible. The damage done annually to forest cover in Uganda, via felling trees for wood-fuel and to burn charcoal is enormous, costed in billion of Ugandan shillings (worth hundreds of millions of US dollars). That it'll use agro-wastes biomass is very important and appropriate, as long as Uganda shall practice agriculture as its mainstay of the economy. The fear expressed by the CEOs of NAPE and NOGAMU, Frank Muramuzi and Jane Nalunga respectively that usage of agro-wastes as fuel to make briquettes is not sustainable, isn't correct. Because the source of the wastes--agriculture) is a sustainable as long as its practised in a sustainable manner which is possible. For instance, production of wastes (actually not wastes per se because they're useful in enriching soils as fertilisers or compost manure and even act as mulching on the farm-soils to conserve moisture), shall always go on as long as we shall have harvests of bananas, maize, beans, sorghum, wheat, millet, cassava or even trees we fell. The residues left after threshing off seeds are what is referred to as wastes. Many a times, farmers throw them away--sometimes on bare ground--where they dont cultivate crops, then the 'waste' are destroyed by heat, rain and termites. In Uganda, where the public has been made to understand that it is "gifted-by-nature" with deep fertile soils, plenty of rainfall, extensive greenery, vast natural water sources (rivers, lakes, wetlands) and sunshine available all year round, rarely do we think of deliberate fertilisation of the soils--using industrial ferilisers or ordinary manures, to boost productivity and production. Therefore, often times, farmers just throw away 'wastes' or burn to ashes after removing seed and tubers in case of cassava, yams and potatoes. Thanks IDB & UNCST for this idea. I wish it success for emulation by the rest of Africa

This process already in use in some countries.

Dr.a.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India

Uganda needs more projects like this one. We all know the extent to which lack of sufficient modern and affordable fuels for domestic use has forced both urban and rural populations in the country to depend almost entirely on wood charcoal and firewood as a source of cooking fuel. The situation in the country has been exacerbated by the ever rising costs of the other alternative sources of energy, namely Hydro-electric power, Kerosene and Gas. As a result, the ever increasing demand for these traditional fuels (Wood Charcoal and Firewood) is negatively impacting on the environment.

However, am glad to note that in addition to providing training to farmers and entrepreneurs on realistic, low cost technology to manufacture charcoal briquettes using locally available agriculture wastes, I am told, the Project will also work closely with environment and forest and other local officers in the 20 districts to support among other things planting of trees, including fruit trees and ensure the project activities are not harmful to the environment.

The project also has other vital components of research and development and monitoring and evaluation.

Edward Tujunirwe, Uganda

Some zeros were dropped. The kilns hold 60-80 Kg and produce 20-30 kg of char. See:
http://www.artiuganda.org/content/technologiesand it apparently takes 40 minutes.
See photos at: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charcoalproject.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F08%2FAbout-the-Waste-to-Wealth-Project.doc&ei=O00UTqyVOefu0gG9gIGPCQ&usg=AFQjCNElHt8lEIXpfn8m-O7ipy4Xx6sGJw