TITLE:
Toward Adaptation of Briquettes Making Technology for Green Energy and Youth Employment in Tanzania: A Review
AUTHORS:
Yusto Mugisha Yustas, Werenfrid Michael Tarimo, Susan Andrew Mbacho, Denis Olgen Kiobia, Nelson Richard Makange, Avitus Titus Kashaija, Erasto Benedict Mukama, Charles Kajanja Mzigo, Festo Richard Silungwe
KEYWORDS:
Renewable Energy, Briquettes, Biomass, Awareness, Perception, Adoption
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Power and Energy Engineering,
Vol.10 No.4,
April
28,
2022
ABSTRACT: Briquette technology is an alternative green energy source to offset the
increasing demand for charcoal and firewood to save the forests and the
environment while creating employment for youth and women. Using the scoping
and realistic review techniques, a review study was conducted to establish the
briquette technology’s existence, and its value chain, identify stakeholders and challenges along the value
chain and explore the policies supporting the technology and potential
employment opportunities for youth in the green energy sector. The review
results indicated that the briquette technology value chain consists of
sourcing raw materials, production process, distribution, and consumption as
its components while transportation, storage or packaging, marketing, and
training are its supporting services. In addition, it was found that
stakeholders in the value chain are manufacturers, producers, and supporting
service providers who differ based on their formalities, such as groups,
companies, government organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),
institutions, and enterprises. Furthermore, five challenges were identified
that impair the briquette adoption. They include the technology, raw materials,
and the quality of briquettes, promotion, and marketing. Also, the study found
that there are limited policies that provide a conducive environment for
briquette technology to flourish. The study concludes that briquette technology
exists in Tanzania. However, it is not yet matured as compared to the developed
countries, and the technology is not backstopped by existing policies. The
study recommends the briquette technology as a viable
employment opportunity, especially for youth and women; therefore, the
formulated briquette value chain should be utilized for easy coordination of
stakeholders and deployment of the technology. Also, there is a need to create
awareness and innovative strategies for promoting and engaging more
stakeholders in the technology through the policies that explicitly insist on
adopting the briquette technology.