NAWALPARASI, June 27: In an effort to minimize pollution in brick production process, Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industry (FNCSI) has been promoting Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) -- an environment friendly and fuel economy chimney -- in different districts.
Sustainable Construction Practices (SCP) -- a project funded by the European Union (EU) -- has been encouraging entrepreneurs through FNCSI to switch from traditional Hoffman hilns to VSBK in 10 districts having high concentration of brick factories.
Prabin Chhetri, VSBK coordinator of SCP, said promotion of VSBK is one of the six programs of the project which has been promoting environment friendly construction practices to cope with worsening effects of environment degradation.
The program supported by the 40-month project that concludes in April, 2015, include promotion of VSBK, Rat Trap Bond Technique -- a practice of laying brick with hollow structure of wall, concrete hollow block, RCC doors and window frame, cement tiles and use of round aggregates.
“Among others, we are encouraging entrepreneurs to adopt VSBK, as it saves fuel consumption by 40 percent with 80 percent less emission compared to traditional kilns,” said Chhetri.
Total investment required to operate VSBK requires around Rs 3.5 million which is higher than around Rs 2 million needed for traditional kilns. Baking process in VSBK takes just around 24 hours, whereas the process takes around 30 days in traditional kilns.
The project is being executed in Makawanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dhading, Tanahun, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.
Before inception of SCP project about a year ago, a Swiss project had already supported operation of 28 VSBKs in those districts. Yeti Tile and Brick Industry located in Thakre, Dhading is one of the four VSBK kilns established with the technical support of SCP.
“VSBK technology is not only environment-friendly, it requires small area and produces neat and clean bricks. Unlike traditional kilns that can´t be run during rainy seasons, vertical shaft kilns can be operated round the year,” said Suyesh Shrestha, proprietor of Yeti Tile and Brick Industry.
Shrestha said bricks produced from vertical shaft kilns have been priced at Rs 10 per piece, while traditional chimneys bricks at Rs 9 per piece.
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