#briquettes

Ugandan women turn agricultural waste into biofuel to save trees

Every morning, Sheeba Kwagala and her colleague head to a sanctuary in the Ugandan capital of Kampala to mash agricultural waste, mainly banana peels and crop residues, with molasses and clay to make briquettes.

“We crush agricultural waste, then mix it with clay and molasses to solidify it. We put the mixture into a machine that forms the briquette. Learning how to make briquettes is easy, and I will share my skills with other women,” Kwagala, 20

Briquettes, a type of renewable energy source and a form of solid biofuel, are said to be more energy-efficient than wood or charcoal, largely used in the East African country.

Michael Kalyesubula, a chef at a restaurant in Kampala, told Xinhua that he now prefers to use briquettes instead of charcoal. “If we have meals using charcoal, which has a negative impact on the environment, it is not right. After we started using briquettes, we came to understand that they help us save the environment.”

He added that using briquettes has saved the restaurant money and energy for cooking. The restaurant used to spend 65,000 Ugandan shillings (about 17 U.S. dollars) a day on charcoal, but now it spends only 12,000 shillings on briquettes to cook meals for about 165 people.

The fuel is made by workers from the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company, who dry it, treat it in a kiln and carbonize it with sawdust at 300 degrees Celsius (572 degrees Fahrenheit), and eventually press it into balls that are then sold by the kilo.

Pillow charcoal is a type of charcoal briquette that is shaped like a small pillow. This shape helps the charcoal burn evenly and provide steady heat during cooking.

Because of its consistent burning and easy ignition, pillow charcoal is widely used for BBQ grilling, restaurants, and outdoor cooking. Many people prefer it because it helps maintain stable heat and makes grilling easier.

The uniform shape also allows easy storage and transportation, which is why pillow charcoal is often used in commercial grilling and export markets.If you want to learn more about pillow charcoal and its applications, check this page: