”This money will serve as a foundation for us to begin manufacturing fuel briquettes from waste,” explains Björn Söderberg. “Production is slated to begin before the end of the year.”
Every year, large sections of the jungle-like forests of Nepal disappear. They are cut down to fuel homes and provide energy for industrial processes. Less than half of the forests that were found in Nepal only 20 years ago remain today. Despite having introduced agricultural planning as early as 1947, large sections have been clear-cut.
Severe erosion problems
As the climate changes, forest clearing can bring about disaster for many Nepalese villages. Torrential rains carry away soil when the forest is no longer able to prevent erosion. This destroys all possibility of growing in what were previously such fertile grounds. Today, landslides are common, and entire villages can be swept away after intense periods of rain.
In low-lying areas, soil from the mountains causes other problems. Mud fills in stream beds and forces watercourses to seek new paths.
Björn Söderberg came to Nepal in 2001. He was met with poverty and major social problems, but quickly resolved to try to do something to help the situation.
Sustainable development
Today he operates several companies all sharing long-term sustainable development as a common denominator. This includes not only recycling of paper waste in Watabaran Card & Paper Creations, but also IT companies and web-based consulting services.
The idea of starting production of fuel briquettes has been around for a while.
"It is done in other countries lacking forest resources," he says. “It has been around in India for a long time, and that is where we ordered the equipment we need.”
But production of briquettes needs to be adapted to special conditions prevailing in Nepal. In India, production is based largely on agricultural waste.
Industrial waste turned into briquettes
"Initially, we are working with waste from local industries," explains Björn. “Shavings, wood waste, textiles and other combustibles can easily be turned into fuel briquettes.”
But he also wants to test mixing food remnants and similar types of waste into the briquettes.
It is actually not such a giant leap for Björn to invest in fuel briquette production. His production of recycled paper consumes 2-3 tons every month.
"Since we began, the price of wood fuel has doubled," says Björn. “The briquettes cost 10 less, but contain 20-30% more energy. The alternative of using coal is both worse from an environmental perspective and more costly.”
Advantages for the forest
The briquettes may bring about major changes for the forests of Nepal. Björn has estimated that there are approximately 2,000 companies using quantities of wood fuel equal to – or greater than Watabaran Card & Paper Creations – in the immediate vicinity alone.
"To begin with, we estimate that briquette production will cover Watabaran's monthly fuel requirements in less than one day, so we will have the capacity to help many other companies save a lot of wood fuel," says Björn. “And the more briquettes are used for fuel, the more trees will be left standing in the forests around Nepal's mountain villages.”
Fuel briquettes have a greater energy value than wood and are also cheaper. Björn Söderberg hopes that this will result in reduced deforestation in Nepal. The forests are necessary to protect crops and villages in mountainous areas from erosion and landslides.
While briquette production is underway, special burners capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to 50% will also be imported and sold. The stove shown here has enough capacity to heat 5,000 liters of water.
Large parts of Nepal used to be covered in forest. Over the past 20 years, nearly half of the forest has been cleared, while the rainy seasons have become increasingly intense. Landslides and erosion are now forcing greater numbers of people to abandon their plantations and move to Kathmandu and other large cities.