Publications

Demand for inexpensive alternative fuels and briquettes to bridge the gap betweencooking, water heating, and heating production processes has been expanding by theday, due to the current fuel crisis and the ever-increasing costs of electricity and woodcharcoal in Kampala and its environs. The goal of this study was to determine thedifferent types of biomass briquettes and associated technology that are available inKampala. Face-to-face interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data on thenumerous varieties of biomass briquettes that are commonly used by Kampalafamilies, as well as the raw materials used by briquette producers. Descriptivestatistics techniques were employed. According to the statistics, the most often utilizedbriquettes in Kampala are stick briquettes, honeycomb briquettes, cylindrical, round,and doughnut-shaped briquettes. While the majority of households continue to useexpensive and unreliable energy sources such as wood charcoal, gas, and electricity,using briquettes is less expensive and has the potential to reduce deforestation,minimize waste streams, and reduce indoor air pollution, reduce odors, and increaselocal job creation. Households that use briquettes lamented a lack of availabletechnology, a lack of equipment for making their own, and a shortage of well-trainedor skilled people to assist in waste sorting to gather organic matter for briquetteproduction. It was concluded that carbonized round briquettes are preferred becausenon-carbonized briquettes are extremely scarce and that a number of factorssignificantly deterred individuals from investing in biomass briquette technology,including government laxity in providing incentives and a failure to create favorableconditions for individuals to invest in biomass briquette energy production andutilization.