Adoption of Clay Charcoal Briquetting to Curb Deforestation and the Impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic in Rural Areas, Kenya

Abstract

Wood fuel is the principal source of energy in Kenya and contributes to more than 17% of the global deforestation. Saving on the amount of charcoal used at home will not only help save on cost that can be used to offset the economic burden caused by the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic but also control deforestation. This will foster the realization of more than10% tree cover in Kenya by 2022 as per the presidential directive of 2019, Kenya Vision 2030 and the Constitution of Kenya 2010. This study aimed at promoting this goal by encouraging adoption of charcoal briquettes made from clay soil as a binder, charcoal dust and charcoal pellets as raw materials and ignited by pure charcoal (PC) to produce energy to form Clay Charcoal Blend Briquettes (CCBB). The study compared the amount of energy consumed by a household of five people using CCBB and PC. The results were: adoption of CCBB reduced the amount of charcoal used by 1.025kg per day, 21.325kg per week, 92.25kg per month and 1,122.375kg per year. This would save hundreds of trees from destruction. Additionally, using CCBB saved a household Ksh.45 (0.41USD) a day, Ksh. 945 (8.59 USD) a week, Ksh. 4,050 (36.82 USD) a month and Ksh. 49,275 (447.95 USD) a year as compared to using PC. The study therefore encouraged for adoption of CCBB concept.