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 About |
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Title: Ubuntuu BioEnerGri
Location:
Categories: Environment
Technology
Status:
In Progress
Timeline:
Ongoing
Description:
Ubuntuu wishes to innovate in the traditional charcoal making process in Cote d’Ivoire.
“I am because you are”, “I wish for you what I have for myself” - this is a strong motto that led to us to start-up Ubuntuu BioEnerGri.
30% of households in Cote d’Ivoire have access to a clean source of cooking fuel that is LPG Gas. The 70% others, those at the base of the pyramid use charcoal, clear-cut from woods and when burned; emitting sparks and smoke due to the poor process of carbonization. Charcoal cannot be removed overnight so we opted to look at ways to make it a greener and cleaner cooking fuel.
Ubuntuu proposes to pioneer the introduction of locally-manufactured, low-cost and improved charcoal producing retorts known as Adam retorts in Cote d'Ivoire and assist coconut farmers to transform their coconut shells into green charcoal that can be sold as an excellent alternative to clear-cut wood charcoal in cities. Our double aim objective is simple: gradually use all sorts of agricultural biomass as an alternative to wood to produce charcoal and improve the charcoal-making process with efficient retorts; boasting higher efficiency (at least 35% as opposed to 15-20%), less emissions (-70%) and a better quality of charcoal (carbonized at 800°C as against 300-400°C removing volatile matters).
We intend to share our enthusiasm with all stakeholers including coconut farmers, households, urban retail sellers, transporters, machinery providers and facilitators and other service providers to join us and make it happen!.
Background:
In Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa), cutting down trees to serve as cooking fuel (wood fuel and charcoal) is the 2nd major reason of deforestation that saw the forest cover being intensely depleted from 16 millions hectares in 1960 to under 3 million today.
The economic capital city, Abidjan with its 5 million inhabitants stands at a demand of 200-250,000 tons of charcoal and overall 400,000 tons in the country, making it the major source of cooking fuel for 70% of the population. The charcoal reaches Abidjan from locations as far as 200 km from the inner country.
Grand-Bassam, a bordering city (43 km from Abidjan) is part of a 50.000 hectare coconut farming zone where 380 to 400 millions of coconut shells as well as husks are minimally valorized.
Coconut shells can serve as a reliable alternative to use wood to produce charcoal - and wives and relatives of coconut farmers have started to do so, but using the much polluting, inefficient traditional earth mount kiln methods.
We would like to pioneer the introduction of locally-manufactured, low-cost and improved charcoal producing retorts known as Adam retorts which do not exist yet in the country. Widespread traditional methods of burning wood or biomass have an efficiency of only 12 to 20%, meaning you burn 5 kg of wood to get 1 kg of charcoal. The conversion rate of biomass-to-charcoal is between 35 to 40% in the case of Adam-retorts.
Those retorts are also more environmentally-friendly as they emit up to 70% less harmful emissions (methane, CO2) that have long-term impacts on the health of the charcoal producers, essentially women in the case of coconut shells. We would install 2 Adam-retorts, under a ‘mini-factory’ model in the same location which would serve as a pilot and demonstration center.
This should help in turn, more farmers and families to produce an increased amount of coconut-based charcoal and we would facilitate the commercialization of the surplus green charcoal (after farmers’ own use) to be sold in Abidjan (the capital city). We would tap into an existing network of urban retailers of charcoal, essentially men and encourage disadvantaged women to become retailers by opting for a micro-consignment model. (no upfront costs, receive the charcoal now, pay periodically)
Purpose:
We would like to introduce and popularize the use of green charcoal, a clean energy source in Cote d’Ivoire. We intend to offer green charcoal as a viable fuel alternative to wood fuel and wood charcoal and stop the furthering damaging of the forest cover.
Mission:
We produce and commercialize green charcoal derived from coconut and other types of agricultural waste as a clean and reliable cooking fuel for households in Cote d’Ivoire.
Vision:
Every single citizen has access to clean energy sources, that ensures its well-being and that of the environment.
Objectives:
Long Term Goals:
- 80% of the households in Cote d’Ivoire that use traditional wood and wood charcoal shift to green charcoal or other clean energy sources by 2014.
- 100% of coconut farmers in Cote d’Ivoire receive additional income by disposing of their coconut shells and other by-products by 2014.
Immediate goals
- Install 2 Adam-retorts as Improved Charcoal Production Systems to transform coconut shells into charcoal
- Produce 100 tons of coconut charcoal and enable its sale in cities.
Milestones:
- Construction of the 2 Adam retorts
February 2011
- Green charcoal production site operational (enthusiasm from local community; selection and training of women in the community as charcoal producers; availability of shells)
March 2011
- First production of green charcoal available
March 2011
- Incorporation as a (social) enterprise to sell charcoal in the city
January/February 2011
Budget:
Licensing contract fees for the Adam-retort 1000
Construction of 2 Adam retorts (capacity of 50 tons/year) 3100
Purchase of 1 Briquetting Machine 2500
Purchase of Bicycles and load carriage for collection of shells 600
Purchase of coconut shells (300 tons)
2857
TOTAL (IN US$) 10057
*We expect grants and donations to cover the initial investments in machinery and raw materias
which amounts to 10,057 US$
**The total budget amounts to 24,343 US$ (the addition concern promotion, logistics and salaries essentially), we hope to secure the remaining amount from grants
and the revenue generated from the sale of the coconut charcoal will fund ongoing expenses.
Needs:
Your critical insights and ideas are so welcome! Please, write back to us!
Contact Name: Richard Seshie
Contact Email Address: rickyci@hotmail.com
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