The briquettes produced in this project are increasingly replacing traditional wood-charcoal. They burn longer, produce less smoke, and generate significantly lower emissions.
Agricultural waste such as coconut shells are collected to produce the briquettes.
The coconut shells are carbonized, mixed and finally pressed into briquettes.
The finished briquettes are laid out to dry.
Finally, the briquettes are ready to be packed and sold locally to street food vendors, restaurants, and households.
Conventional charcoal production has significant environmental impacts. Large amounts of wood are burned each year, contributing to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Summary
| Total savings : | 9,500 tonnes of CO₂ per year |
| Local environment : | Avoidance of deforestation in the region, use of agricultural residues as biomass |
| Further advantages : | Creating jobs, additional income along the supply chain |
| Project partners : | Khmer Green Charcoal Ldt. |
Agricultural Residues for Char-Briquette Production
In Cambodia, charcoal is a central part of everyday life. It is widely used for cooking in households, street food kitchens, and restaurants. However, conventional charcoal production comes at a high environmental cost: large amounts of wood are converted into charcoal every year, contributing to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
This project addresses the problem at its root by offering an alternative. By producing high-quality char-briquettes from agricultural residues such as coconut shells and rice husks, it replaces traditional wood charcoal and reduces pressure on Cambodia’s forests. In this way, existing biomass is utilized efficiently, while the need for wood as a fuel source is reduced.
Local Benefit
In addition to its environmental benefits, the project creates new economic opportunities. The construction and operation of the production facility generate employment, while the collection and supply of agricultural residues provide an additional source of income for local communities. By strengthening local value chains, the project supports sustainable economic development. At the same time, it promotes fair working conditions, including equal pay for women and men.
An Energy Efficient Solution
The production process involves carbonizing the raw materials under controlled conditions and pressing them into uniform briquettes using natural binders. The resulting fuel burns longer, produces less smoke, and generates significantly lower emissions than traditional charcoal. At the same time, the process is designed to be energy-efficient by reusing heat generated during production.
The project builds on the experience of a local partner that has been producing briquettes on a smaller scale for several years. With support from atmosfair, a new production facility is being established to significantly increase capacity. This allows more briquettes to be supplied to the local market, where they are increasingly replacing wood-based charcoal. By turning agricultural waste into a valuable product, it also promotes a more circular economy.
Our Partner
The project is implemented in cooperation with Khmer Green Charcoal Co., Ltd., a pioneer in the production of char-briquettes from organic materials in Cambodia. The company has more than a decade of experience in biomass utilization and has successfully established a small-scale production and distribution system. Within the project, Khmer Green Charcoal is responsible for the construction and operation of the new production facility.
This project is creating an energy-efficient energy source in the form of briquettes produced from agricultural residues. It also improves local development on the path to a sustainable future.
Corresponding adjustments are in process
Status update: atmosfair is currently working on an agreement with the host country to prevent double counting, so that the project can be used without restriction in the future to offset unavoidable residual emissions.
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