The Department of Science and Technology Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST – CAR) through its Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) – Kalinga turned over a complete set of charcoal briquetting equipment to the Local Government Unit of Pasil recently.
Through the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) project in Pasil, the provided DOST Forest Products Research and Development Institute’s charcoal briquetting machine aims to address the growing need for environment-friendly and sustainable fuel and the efficient management of agricultural and agro-forest wastes.
Charcoal briquetting is the process of converting agricultural, agro-forest wastes and other biomass materials into useful energy source-fuel substitutes. The production line consists of a briquettor, mixer, dryer, and carbonizer for converting the wastes into charred powder which will be mixed with starch and molded under pressure into briquettes.
The briquettes are a clean and efficient alternative to kerosene and electricity, and traditional charcoal, which is often produced by cutting down trees and contributes to deforestation. They burn longer and more evenly, producing less smoke and ash. The machine can produce up to 120 kilograms of charcoal briquettes per day and can be operated by a single person.
The project is not only focused on addressing environmental issues and decrementing waste management costs, but will also provide additional livelihood in the community. They can be sold by small-scale entrepreneurs, providing a source of income for people in rural areas. These are often cheaper than traditional charcoal, making them a more affordable fuel source for low-income households.
It has been one of the advocacies of the DOST to provide SciTech-based solutions that can benefit local communities and promote environmental sustainability. The turnover of the charcoal briquetting machine to Pasil, Kalinga is just one example of the department’s efforts to foster rural development and environmental conservation. By DOST-CAR