Charcoal Factory Inaugurated In Erongo Region

27 Sep 2023

The fledgling charcoal industry in Namibia has received another boost with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art factory in Arandis near Swakopmund at the end of September 2023.  

The company Green Charcoal Namibia (GCN) is a subsidiary of the Belgian company Carbobois, the biggest importer and distributer of charcoal in Europe. Construction of the 60 million Namibia-Dollar factory started in April 2022.  

GCN currently employs over 50 people and plans to create an additional 30 jobs by 2025. 

GCN cooperates with some thirty farmers in various parts of Namibia who supply the raw material to the factory, where charcoal for barbecues and briquettes are processed and packaged mainly for the export markets. 

Due to vast areas in Namibia being virtually inaccessible through invasive bush species, the 'harvesting' or thinning of these species creates open spaces to produce charcoal and even animal fodder, is a new economic sector in the country.  

GCN produces sustainable charcoal and briquettes in Arandis and supplies markets across Europe.  

At the inauguration on 25 September in Arandis, the minister in the presidential office, Christine //Hoebes said the investment represented “a clear and decisive commitment to environmental protection, clean energy and the well-being of communities”.  

GCN directors Jean-Daniel Goblet and Cedric Schmidt said the company's activities are expected to add 200 million Namibia Dollars to the economy. About 14 percent of all Namibian charcoal exports are channelled via GCN. 

An aerial view of the charcoal factory at Arandis near Swakopmund.
Photo: Green Charcoal Namibia

 

The brand-new factory has the capacity to process and package over 30 000 tons of charcoal and 8 000 tons of briquettes each year. The factory has Forestry Stewardship Certification (FSC) status. “That translates into 40 containers weekly or 1,500 containers per annum”, Jean-Daniel Goblet said. 

“We will also export wooden pellets next year to Europe, where they are high in demand as heating fuel” he added. 

GCN is also exploring a new product, biochar, which captures CO2 emissions, AND can be used as fertiliser and as an additive to animal fodder. GCN expects to export 2,000 tons of biochar from 2024 onwards.    

Brigitte Weidlich

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