Environment Minister Khaled Fahmy underlined on Wednesday the importance of charcoal industry, making clear that Egypt exports 50-million-pound charcoal every year.

Given the importance of this industry, the ministry, in coordination with the Industry Ministry, made a short and long-term plan to develop the old-fashioned charcoal pits.

The conventional open pit method depends charcoal carbonization process in an open way that seriously harm public safety, the minister said.

In open pits, wood burns and turn to charcoal and not to ashes.

"We agreed with the Industry Ministry to develop the conventional carbonization process to kiln-based one to avoid pollution and harmful emissions."

The ministry is now mulling financing these mechanized kilns to sell them to charcoal suppliers at a low-interest rate and over installments, he said.

"We also agreed to give those suppliers a time to rectify their status and shift to the new kiln-based burning process, he added.
Source: MENA