COMACO studying illegal fuelwood used for industrial kitchens
COMMUNITY Markets for Conservation (COMACO) is undertaking a study that looks at the current level of illegal fuelwood and charcoal use for industrial boilers and commercial kitchens.
This is in comparison to cost-savings and fuel efficiency of using briquettes manufactured by COMACO.
COMACA, through its plant in Eastern province, deshells groundnuts inhouse to create a bio-waste product that is compacted, turned into briquettes and used as the fuel powering its dry processing of fruits and other products.
In its February 2023 newsletter, COMACO indicated that it was completing a study that looked at the current level of illegal fuelwood and charcoal use for industrial boilers and commercial kitchens.
“Results of this study will offer recommendations to the Zambian government for promoting these fuel briquettes as a way of replacing charcoal and illegal fuel wood use,” COMACO stated.
It indicated that every year COMACO bought over 2000 tonnes of unshelled groundnuts for production of its Wild! Peanut butter.
“Once shelled the shells are compacted and processed into fuel briquettes that are used to power our groundnut roasters and food dryers for other products, including preparing lunch for our staff,” the newsletter stated.
Meanwhile, COMACO and Zambia’s Forestry Department trained 38 community forestry guards last month to help curb the illegal exploitation of trees in Mumbwa District, particularly from commercial charcoal-making.
This was done in partnership with the Zambia Forestry College
These local guards will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing the protection of forest resources in their chiefdom’s Community Conservation Areas as community leadership undertake efforts to develop legal, sustainable markets from their forests.
Edgar Bowa, training officer from the College said: “These guards and the communities they represent bring the necessary knowledge and skills as the true custodian of the land to demonstrate how forest resources can be protected in Zambia, which is why the Zambian Government has given communities the powers to do so. With the help of partners like COMACO, we are making this happen.”