Opportunities, challenges and the way forward for biomass briquettes in Tanzania

Abstract

The reported study highlights the potential for biomass briquettes as a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional fuels like firewood and charcoal in Tanzania. Focus group discussions and key informant meetings were conducted, involving stakeholders from 16 regions of Tanzania's mainland. Rating scales and SWOT analysis were used to analyze the collected information. Our analysis showed that briquette technology can contribute to reducing deforestation, climate change mitigation, and employment generation. However, it also identified various challenges like market incompetency, limited access to technology, community misconceptions about briquettes, and a lack of political support. To mitigate these challenges and promote the briquette sector in Tanzania, the study suggests various interventions, particularly providing technical training and resources to accelerate production and quality assurance and engaging with policymakers to advocate for supportive policies and incentives. Additionally, developing effective marketing and distribution strategies. In conclusion, the study indicates that Tanzania has the potential to advance the biomass briquette sector, which has positive social, ecological and economic impacts. However, addressing these challenges and realizing their potential benefits will require a collaborative and multifaceted approach involving various stakeholders, like government agencies, researchers, development partners, NGOs, and local communities.