44
Inventory of Innovative Indoor Smoke
Alleviating Technologies in Nepal
sliding door to control the airflow. In case of mud stove with clay
lining, only air inlet is made through the base of the stove.
Normally, the beehive briquette is placed into the fuel chamber
from the top and the grate is used to hold these briquettes. The
flame torch (made with a metal rod wrapped with cotton and
soaked in oil, preferably in kerosene) is introduced to the bottom
of combustion chamber and held just below the grate to ignite
the fuel. The heat generated can be used either for cooking or
space heating.
The diameter of the stove should fit the briquette otherwise there
will be heat loss resulting to lower efficiency. Application of
insulation (e.g. clay) on the inner side of stove saves heat loss
and hence enhances efficiency of the stove by letting out little
smoke.
It is usually ignited outside in the open place; once the flame is
stable it is taken inside. Efficiency ranges from 20 to 23 per cent.
Disseminated regions
Urban and semi-urban areas.
Advantages
Portable, easy to handle, suitable for space heating and easy to
fabricate. Smoke is reduced significantly compared to traditional
stoves. Barbecue preparation is made easier.
Disadvantages
NA
Major organisations involved in
promotion/dissemination
CEE, CRT/N, FECOFUN, RECAST and other NGOs and CBOs.
The information of organisations involved in briquette
technology is listed in Annex 3.
The findings conclude that the briquette technology is
cheaper, simple, and easier to disseminate at HH and
community level. This technology proves to be an
alternative source of fuel wood and at the same time
creates local employment. It also saves time for user from
collecting fuel wood if promoted appropriately. It is efficient
in reducing IAP and saves fuel. Briquettes made from
banmara and HH wastes contribute in reduction of
deforestation and hence reduce degradation of
environment as a whole. Nepal is an agricultural country
and provides abundant agricultural residues making it
possible for year round availability of raw materials for
briquette production.
The major constraints for commercialisation of briquette
manufacturing industries are - increase in the price of raw
materials (rice husk, saw dust, etc), unavailability of raw
materials in time, lack of long-term marketing strategy,
lack of spare parts and proper training for operation and
maintenance of machines, high electricity consumption,
shorter lifetime of screw machines, unsuitable to use in
traditional stoves, lack of technical research and
development support to the biomass briquette
manufacturers and lack of direct subsidy for adoption and
promotion of technology. In addition, it takes time to
manufacture especially during monsoon due to lack of
proper shading and drying area.
To promote the biomass briquette technology at wider
scale, following steps should be considered:
i There should be an effective government policy,
planning and implementing strategy with public
awareness activities
ii Organisations that are working intensively in biomass
briquette technology promotion and production should
be recognised and provided with fiscal and tax or
subsidy incentives
iii Research and development support should be provided
to the biomass briquette and appropriate biomass
briquette firing stove researchers/manufacturers
iv Provision should be made for adequate funding for
capital investment and training
v Donor agencies’ role in disseminating the technology
in the community level should be reconsidered