Liberia: Charcoal Alternative Shows Potential to Reduce Deforestation

 

 

Super coal  briquettes, a brand of eco-friendly charcoal alternative that is more energy-efficient and cleaner, made from palm kernel shells, is believed to have viable potential to help reduce deforestation in Liberia. 

Launched in partnership with J-Palm Liberia, the project is funded by the German Development Corporation (GIZ) through its Public Private Partnership (PPP) fund. It will see the construction of a medium-scale palm kernel shell processing plant in Bong  County to create more than 5000 jobs for women and youths.

J-Palm will provide an in-kind contribution to the partnership, while GIZ will provide  technical support to increase the production of briquettes in huge quantities to supply the  market. 

Wood charcoal is a standard source of cooking fuel for around 95 percent of Liberians households. Its manufacturing poses a serious threat to the country's forest, according to Renewable Liberia www.renewables-liberia.  Furthermore, population growth and rising urbanization accelerate charcoal demand, which in turn  accelerates deforestation, as rural communities cut down and burn trees to make charcoal. 

Experts have cautioned that if deforestation continues,  Liberia may lose trees and other vegetation, which in term could cause climate change, desertification, erosion, flooding, fewer crops, and a host of problems for rural residents.

“As you burn charcoal you have CO2 going into the atmosphere, which causes the earth to get warmer. We are trying to keep the temperature at 1.5 degrees census, said Dr. Eugene Shannon, former Minister of Lands, Mines, and Energy, now President of the Natural Resources Development Corporation. 

“Charcoal goes along with deforestation. People cut down trees to make charcoal and sell them to make some money to take care of themselves, send their children to school, and live a viable life without considering the environmental effect.”

A ton of charcoal look-alikes created from natural waste was equivalent to conserving up to 88 trees, according to a study commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Philippines on the use of charcoal briquettes. 

The World Bank, in a 2019 report, says “under the Liberia Forest Sector Project, the use of charcoal, which is a significant source of greenhouse gas emission, has seen its demand growing rapidly to an estimated 337,000 metric tons worth US$46 million in 2018, due to ready availability, desirable performance characteristics and a lack of affordable alternatives.” 

According to Georgia Barbara Jettinger, GIZ project manager the briquettes will be priced similarly to wood charcoal while having the added benefits of longer lasting and cleaner burning. 

“The intended  effect is to drive down demand for wood charcoal while creating income-generation  opportunities for women and youth in rural communities,” she said.  

She believed that the introduction of charcoal briquettes in Liberia, and in huge quantities to supply most parts  of the country, especially targeting the urban areas, will help to reduce the country’s reliance  on charcoal, which is one of the major causes of deforestation.  

“The average per-capita charcoal consumption in Liberia is estimated at 64.3kg per annum.  With a population of nearly 5 million, this results in annual charcoal consumption of 321,500 tons,  which corresponds to more than 25 million trees being cut per annum for charcoal  production. Increasing demand for wood charcoal places Liberia’s forests at risk unless we  invest in viable alternatives to wood charcoal,” she adds. 

While charcoal rules the urban energy market, firewood is the most popular fuel in rural regions. According to the most recent national census (2008), 5 percent of rural families used charcoal as their principal cooking fuel, compared to 70 percent of urban households (increasing to 85 percent in Monrovia). Because charcoal is often used as a secondary fuel, the actual consumption rates are probably significantly higher.

Montserrado County, which includes Monrovia, dominates the market and accounts for over 65 percent of total demand, more than ten times greater than any other county, the World Bank 2019 report said.  The next largest centers of demand are Margibi (6.5%) and Bong (6%), both adjacent to Montserrado, with Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Bomi ranked next, meaning that 90% of Liberia’s charcoal is consumed through the country’s central belt.

The project will  increase revenues and profitability for Jpalm Liberia,  reduce income volatility, and increase cash-flow stability by creating a new business unit that generates additional  income for the company. 

J-Palm Liberia is a company that produces cosmetics from kernel shells. The company buys fresh, natural palm kernels from smallholder farmers in rural communities.