Africa report
In Senegal, bio-charcoal as an alternative to charcoal
Audio 02:15
Bio-charcoal manufacturing unit at the Nebeday de Toubacouta association.
© RFI/Charlotte Idrac
By: Charlotte Idrac Follow
2 mins
Until Friday, May 20, participants at COP15 in Abidjan discuss ways to deal with desertification.
Among the causes of this phenomenon, the cutting of wood for the production of charcoal, and bush fires.
In Senegal, the Nebeday association is developing an alternative: bio-charcoal made from straw.
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From our special correspondent in Toubacouta,
Mask on the face, Fatou Sarr mixes charred straw with a clay-based binder.
“
At the start, I do the weighing, I put 80% straw and 20% binder,
she explains.
It's simple, except when the straw is badly charred, because in this case, you have to sort, and it's more difficult.
»
Everything is then compressed in a machine.
The result is very light briquettes of natural charcoal.
According to Nebeday, wood and charcoal represent more than 80% of household energy consumption in Senegal.
“
To stop this deforestation, we have to find alternatives.
The use of straw is one of them and we can make charcoal out of
it,” argues Hubert Dieme, head of the association's bio-fuel center in Toubacouta.
This bio-charcoal is used in the same way as conventional charcoal.
“
Except that the charcoal may be of superior quality.
Ignition is easy, with perfect combustion
,” assures Hubert Dieme.
An ideal organic charcoal for burning incense, or grilling, at 50 CFA francs per briquette or 500 francs per 1.5 kg bag.
Fa Senghor adopted him.
"
It works well,
" she said.
I use it for my iron, to make tea, or sometimes even for long cooking.
What is very different is that it does not smoke, it is better for my health.
»
The bio-charcoal project started about ten years ago.
For Hubert Dieme, it is necessary to change entrenched habits.
“
It's an obstacle
, he admits,
but you have to organize awareness tours in the villages, because it's a product that will change your habits.
The villagers are surprised that straw can be made into charcoal.
We are doing tests to show them the speed and effectiveness of bio-charcoal.
»
In Senegal, according to several studies, more than 40,000 hectares of forest disappear each year.
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Senegal
Energies
COP15 Desertification