Briquettes are becoming quite popular among schools in Tsirang and Sarpang. As a result, the only briquette factory in Tsirang has been doing good business. Briquettes are compressed blocks made out of sawdust which can be used as a substitute for firewood.
Today, a 7-member group is operating the briquette factory. They produce about a ton of briquette in an hour.
The process involves drying the sawdust, grinding it and then converting it into fine particles. After that, the fine sawdust is compressed using machines.
Every day, the factory produces around 4 tons, which is equivalent to 4 pickup truck loads.
The group started the business in 2016 in an effort to reduce the dependency on firewood.
“After securing a fund from India, an Indian individual established the briquette factory. He aimed to make byproducts from sawdust to avoid littering the environment. And it is also aimed at reducing firewood consumptions to minimise the impact on forests. It is also environment friendly since it doesn’t produce much smoke,” said Sonam Phuentsho, an accountant of Drazin Briquette.
Currently, they supply briquettes to 10 schools in Sarpang and Tsirang. And recently, the company also received orders from 8 more schools in Sarpang.
“If a school requires three sacks of briquettes each weighing 40 kilograms, it costs only Nu 1200 per day. And if the same school uses firewood, the same amount will not be sufficient. We have been receiving good feedback so far,” said Sonam Phuentsho.
The factory earns about Nu 1.3 M in a year.
However, the factory has been facing challenges in getting the raw material, sawdust. At the moment, they collect sawdust from sawmills in Tsirang and Wangdue Phodrang.
However, the group is planning to start a sawmill of their own to ensure an uninterrupted supply of sawdust to meet the increasing demand.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Tshering Zam
