Zimbabwe charcoal utilization and marketing study

Abstract

The basic idea which led to the commissioning of the study presented here was to investigate the scope for making productive use of hitherto discarded surplus output from commercial timber plantations in Manicaland province (eastern Zimbabwe). The production and marketing of charcoal from forestry wastes was seen as an option which could perhaps supplement the national fueiwood supply and provide an economically viable substitute for fuels such as diesel oil, coal, coke and kerosene. In this context, it was the task of the study to evaluate: a) the sustained long term availability of wood residues generated in conjunction with commercial timber production, the uses to which the residues are currently being put and the scope for expanding charcoal production beyond current levels; b) the economics of charcoal production, taking into account both feedstock supply costs and the cost effectiveness of current charcoal production operations; c) the likely markets for charcoal, with emphasis on process heat generation, the curing and drying of agricultural products (tobacco, tea), carbon reduction in mineral processing industries, and cooking and space healing in institutions; d) the overall technical and economic merits of increasing the production and utilization of charcoal in Zimbabwe.