Charcoal Evolved: The Briquette Solution For Nigeria’s Future

By Andrew Tyoh

Nigeria’s forests, vital to its economy and environment; face severe deforestation, with unsustainable practices claiming over half of its primary forest cover. In response, briquette charcoal, crafted from agricultural waste, emerges as a sustainable alternative to traditional charcoal, offering a pathway to reduce deforestation, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a cleaner, more efficient fuel source. This aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s urgent need for improved waste management and sustainable energy solutions.

The Detrimental Impact of Traditional Charcoal

Traditional charcoal, produced by heating wood in oxygen-deprived environments, remains a cornerstone of energy in developing nations, fueling approximately 95% of cooking needs. However, its production carries significant environmental and health costs. Deforestation and forest degradation, directly linked to conventional charcoal production, raise serious concerns about long-term sustainability.  Furthermore, traditional charcoal production sites pose substantial health risks, including respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, and even fatalities, as documented in Nigerian studies (Eniola, 2018).

Economically, the traditional charcoal industry suffers from inefficiencies. Rampant deforestation leads to resource depletion and biodiversity loss, while rudimentary kilns result in wood wastage and increased emissions. Selling unprocessed charcoal limits value addition and income potential. This necessitates a shift towards sustainable and value-added practices.

The Briquette Breakthrough

Briquette charcoal, manufactured by compressing biomass materials like agricultural waste into uniform briquettes, offers a sustainable and efficient alternative. This process combines waste with binders like starch or clay, moulds the mixture, and dries the briquettes, creating a versatile fuel for domestic and industrial applications.

Adopting briquette production in Nigeria presents numerous benefits. It creates entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and youth, contributing to poverty alleviation. By offering an alternative to firewood, briquettes mitigate deforestation, reduce landfill waste, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Cleaner combustion improves indoor air quality, reducing respiratory ailments.

The global charcoal briquette market is experiencing significant growth, projected to reach $4.26 billion by 2032. While North America currently dominates, regions like Europe and Asia-Pacific are showing strong growth, highlighting the global potential of this market.

Nigeria’s Untapped Potential

Despite the economic allure of briquettes, their potential remains largely untapped in Nigeria due to technical hurdles and limited expertise. However, Nigeria possesses a remarkable abundance of agricultural residues, projected to increase from 58 million tonnes in 2024 to 80 million tonnes by 2030, positioning it as a key player in the biofuels industry. While market penetration is currently limited, the African and Middle Eastern market is demonstrating robust growth, estimated at $51.23 million in 2024 and projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.2%.

Pioneering enterprises like Gold Seeds (Maxiburn), Middle Brook Farms, and Makamashi Energy Nigeria Ltd. are contributing to the sector. Governmental agencies like FIIRO and RMRDC have also developed briquette machines, fostering local production.

Policy Recommendations: The RMRDC Bill

The proposed RMRDC bill offers a pivotal opportunity to cultivate a sustainable briquette industry in Nigeria. Key recommendations include prioritizing the bill’s enactment, developing targeted incentives, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, promoting research and development, enforcing sustainable resource management, and launching public awareness campaigns.

Analyzing the bill’s potential impact reveals its ability to boost local manufacturing, reduce import dependence, promote sustainable resource management, and facilitate technological advancement. By prioritizing domestic production and value addition, the bill creates jobs and stimulates economic growth. Encouraging the use of local materials reduces the carbon footprint and promotes environmental protection.

A Call to Action

The RMRDC bill, coupled with the benefits of briquette charcoal, offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to achieve energy security, environmental stewardship, and economic diversification. We urge all stakeholders to embrace the bill, champion briquette charcoal, and invest in briquetting infrastructure. By leveraging Nigeria’s abundant biomass resources, we can unlock the transformative power of briquette charcoal and build a prosperous, sustainable future.

References

• Cognitive Market Research & Sky Quest Market Report. (2023). Charcoal Briquette Market Analysis.
• Eniola, P. O. (2018). Health Impacts of Traditional Charcoal Production in Nigeria. Oke Ogun Polytechnic Research Publication.
• FAO. (2020). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
• IEA. (2023). World Energy Outlook 2023. International Energy Agency.
• World Bank. (2021). Forest Degradation and Deforestation in Developing Economies. World Bank Publications.