Prospects for Coal Briquettes as a Substitute Fuel for Wood and ...

AB STR ACT
Fuel wood shortages and potonti a1 shortages are widespread
throughout the devel oping world, and are becoming increasingly more
prwal ent because of the cl easi ng of 1 and for subsi stence and pl antati on
agriculture, excessive and ineffici snt commerci a1 timber harvesting for
domestic and export construction, and charcoal production to meet risi ng
urban demands. It is estimated that three billion people w i l l live in
acute wood scarcity and wood deficit regions by the year 20QQ. Further,
the env iromental and socioeconomic consequences of the resulting
deforestatdon are both pervasive and complex. There are three energy
policy options for mitigating the onslaught of deforestatjon and the
1 nev itabl e and perni ci ous effects of fuel wood scarcities --
conservation, reforestation, and substitution. This report focuses on
the substitution of coal briquettes for fuelwood. Coal briquetting is a
process by which raw coal is compacted into uniform, usually hardr and
impact res4 stant aggl omerations. A1 though substantial adverse heal th
effects could be expected from burning non-anthracite coal or coal
briquettes, a we1 1-devel oped technique, carbonization, exists to convert
coal to a safer form for combustion. The costs associated with
brfquetting and carbonizing coal indicate that 8fsmokel esstV coal
briquettes can be produced at costs competitive with fuel wood and
charcoal. Coal briquetting and carbonization have bean practiced
extensively in India, and this experience is instructjve because of the
wlde range of technologies and coal types uti1 ized. The U. S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) is working on imp1 emanling this energy
option in Haiti and Pakistan by (1) evaluating resources, (2) assessing
markets, (3) analyzing techno7 ogi esr (4) studying government pol icy and
plannings and (5) packaging the idea for the private sector to
implement. A prel iminary exarninatjcn of other USAID assisted countries
Indicates that an additional fifteeii countries have the necessary coal
reserves to become candidates for sonikel ess coal briq uetti ng.
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