Charcoal industry formalises

The final approval has been given for the Namibia Charcoal Association to be registered as a non-profit company from 1 March next year and function independently from the Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU).
The approval from the Charcoal Association to become a non-profit Article 21 Company was given at its members meeting that were held at the Otjiwa Lodge near Otjiwarongo on August 12.
According to the NAU, directors from the various charcoal regions were appointed for the new company.
It was however pointed out that the company will still be affiliated to the NAU.
In the meantime the office of the Charcoal Association has settled in Otjiwarongo and their new webpage will be functional as from 1 September.
A total of 178 delegates were present at the charcoal members’ meeting and services and products of ten exhibitors were displayed.
During his speech the director of forestry, Joseph Hailwa pointed out that his directorate is rather a partner than an enemy of the charcoal industry. He also invited members of this industry to discuss any problems with him.
One of the highlights during the meeting was the demonstration of a proto-type “retort-process” kiln.
Retort kilns burn much faster than the traditional kilns, produce cleaner coal and release less smoke. With financial assistance of GIZ, an expert engineer was contracted to develop this technology further for use in Namibia.
Dagmar Honsbein from the Namibia-Biomass Industry Group, N-Big who was the keynote speaker of the day said that the most important substance during wood development is chemicals which are underdeveloped and underutilised.

ELLANIE SMIT