The Charcoal Project is now officially up and running in Rubaare, Uganda, thanks to the generous contributions from donors who answered our call for support in August!
This is our first report on our progress to date. We hope this update will inspire others to donate on this special matching funds day through our online fundraising partner, Global Giving. Thank you!
This short video of the Peterson press shows the briquette-making technology the school will be using in Rubaare to manufacture it’s new substitute, sustainable fuel for cooking.
It’s been one year since Henry Twinemasiko, the director of the Rubaare Education Foundation, reached out to us for help. With the passion and precision of scientists decoding the latest strand of the seasonal flu, The Charcoal Project team immediately set out to try to help the school crack its problem with diminishing woodfuel supplies and the increasing expense of procuring it to cook the 1600 meals the school kitchen provides to the boarding students and staff each day.
Our three step plan for Rubaare consists of 1) retrofitting the six school kitchens with energy efficient stoves, 2) planting trees for fuel and other uses, and 3) training the school to produce fuel briquettes made from the regions surplus agricultural waste.
In researching the fuel briquette solutions, we discovered there were multiple options available and no decision tree on how to choose the between them. The Charcoal Project team spent the first six months researching and talking to developers, implementers, manufacturers and others with experience in the field.
Our research eventually led us to Isaac Owor, founder of EnviroCoal, a fuel-briquette manufacturer based in the capital, Kampala. Isaac was kind enough to visit Henry in Rubaare to determine the school’s potential to make its own fuel briquettes. His positive assessment, his credentials, and the warm endorsement his work has received from others convinced us that Isaac was the right partner for the project.
Today, October 19th, we received confirmation that all the elements necessary are in place for Isaac to travel to Rubaare next week to begin assembling and training the main school in the production and use of briquettes made from locally available crop residues.
We hope to have the first results of the tests with the fuel briquettes over the coming weeks!
For their generous support every step of the way, The Charcoal Project wishes to thank the Beaverton Rotary Club in Beaverton, Oregon, Bob Petterson, the creator of the Petterson press, and Jessica De Clerk, co-developer of the Petterson-based briquette-making program and training scheme in Uganda. All photos courtesy of Jessica De Clerk.
Sylvia & Kim
PS – Isaac is passionate about sharing the technology with others in his community, as witnessed in this recent training session. 
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Kindly get me Isaac’s contact in Kampala. I would like to consult himKindly let me Isaac’s contacts in Kampala. I would like to consult him
Hi, Godfrey. Thank you for your interest. You can contact Isaac by emailing envirocoalug (at) hotmail (dot) com
I would like to know organisation in kenya dealing with charcoal briquettes manufacturing especially in bulk ,either individual,company,or community based organisation.much apprecieated for the good work you are doing to compile the information.BbLessed.
Dear Alice,
We don’t keep a list of briquette manufacturers but you might find some helpful information in this report on Kenya Briquette makers. http://www.gvepinternational.org/en/business/news/gvep-international-publishes-study-briquettes-kenya
I would like to know organisation in kenya dealing with charcoal briquettes manufacturing especially in bulk ,either individual,company,or community based organisation.much appreciated for the good work you are doing to compile the information.B Blessed.