Nyiinam Briquettes: From Alego to the World
On January 7, 2022, NALSA(K) vice-chair Salome Atandi brought together 50 women groups under the umbrella body Women United For Our Future (WUFOF) to launch a project to produce charcoal briquettes as a clean, alternative and energy-saving source of fuel. Proudly Kenyan first sponsored the project by donating 15 briquette-making machines and over 16,000 trees planted by the same women groups this year.
The primary objectives of the project are to:
- Educate and sensitize the people to the effects of deforestation, climate change, andglobal warming. The target population would be informed about the new technologies for producing briquettes at an affordable cost to provide energy alternatives to current charcoal and fossil fuels for domestic use.
- Equip selected trainees and registered women groups with knowledge and skills in manufacturing briquettes using sawdust, biomass, and the subsequent use of the products and Agricultural Waste as raw materials.
- Create entrepreneurs and employment for mainly rural and semi-urban populations through business training offered by microfinance institutions.
- Produce sample briquette-making kilns and briquettes.
- Promote the usage of briquettes among the rural and urban population
- Promote agroforestry and tree growing as a business activity and use of improved cooking stores.
- Plant seedlings by identified women groups
Selling the briquettes
During the project launch in Alego-Usonga, Siaya County, WUFOF promised that they would play a role in helping make the briquettes marketable for the women groups. They do this by buying the briquettes from the ladies once they manufacture them and then selling them on their behalf, ensuring an assured market for the product.
The briquettes are being traded under the business name Nyiinam – a simple Dholuo name that means “ladies from the lakeside”. On November 3, 2022, they even got the opportunity to trade them at the Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) during the Clean Energy Conference and Expo. This fulfils the promise made by WUFOF to help make the briquettes marketable. WUFOF buys the briquettes from the ladies once they manufacture them and sells them on their behalf through Nyiinam, ensuring an assured market for the product.
Alignment to international and national goals
The project speaks to various SDGs, including climate action (SDG13), affordable and clean energy (SDG7), and no poverty (SDG1) by:
- Contributing to global environmental benefits
- Mitigating climate change. The briquettes will substitute the use of firewood and charcoal at the household level, mainly in urban areas. In addition, communities will be assisted in adopting energy-saving technologies through collaboration with the vocational centre. These efforts will contribute to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
- Contributing to improving the livelihoods of communities.
Finally, it also contributes to national priorities and strategies by addressing national environmental challenges by increasing tree coverage.
Photos by Nyiinam Quality Briquettes Limited
Post courtesy of Salome Atandi