Trucks with charcoal
The recent directive by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to certify charcoal dealers in the country has come under sharp criticism, with several stakeholders arguing that there may be a hidden agenda to create cartels.
Dr Akankwasah Barirega, the executive director of Nema, said in an April 23 notice that commercial charcoal production will require an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate.
“It is an offense under Section 157 of the Act to commence an activity that requires ESIA before obtaining a certificate of approval from Nema,” the notice read in part.
The charcoal business chain is a multi-billion industry that involves tree cutters, charcoal burners, transporters and distributors. On this note, Muwanga Kivumbi, the shadow minister for Finance, reasons that Nema’s new policy on charcoal burning will drive towards the creation of a cartel of charcoal dealers.
“Nema cannot ban charcoal burning in Uganda. Do they want to establish an exclusive cartel of people to manage the charcoal business? There’s a group of highly connected individuals that have invested heavily in artificial forests. Since the trees have now matured, they, through Nema, now want to have the monopoly over the charcoal business as they have done in the mining sector,” he says.
Kivumbi notes that the ESIA certificate will only increase corruption levels among the supervisors of Nema and other enforcement officers.
“These letters are now going to make corruption official. Everyone involved in protecting the environment is going to line their pockets. Nema and other environmental bodies are a batch of jokers. They have achieved nothing in all the decades that they have been in office. Nema is inherently incapable, based on their DNA, of fighting environmental degradation. The whole energy debate on how to protect the environment is a huge economic question that cannot be answered by Nema’s letters,” Kivumbi said.
He insisted that Nema should first be deliberate about strategically investing in alternative sources of energy to make them affordable.
He added, “Human nature is about supply and affordability. Nema should provide an alternative energy source that is affordable, durable, and predictable. If this energy source exists, no one shall use charcoal.”
According to the 2014 national population census, Uganda has approximately 7.3 million households countrywide, with about 75 percent of the population residing in the countryside. According to the census, 94 percent of households use firewood or charcoal for cooking.
Speaking to The Observer, Jamil Ssentongo, a charcoal retailer at Kalerwe market, expressed fear that the announcement could affect his sales.
“With their new announcement, we shall struggle to get charcoal. It implies that when the current stock is sold out, the new stock of charcoal will be more expensive due to the reduction in production. I have been buying a bag of charcoal for Shs 100,00 and then selling it for Shs 120,000. It is most likely that the wholesale price of the bag of charcoal will increase. Most likely, my sales will drop because charcoal will become unaffordable. The alternatives that they are giving us are also unaffordable. I don’t see myself moving to another business. This is the only business that I understand.”
Interviewed, Barirega said there was a need to regulate the charcoal business in Uganda, or else the country would wake up late without any charcoal.
“People must not think charcoal burning will last long at this unsustainable rate. If the trees run out, charcoal will also run out. If we argue that there are no alternatives, then what will happen when the trees for charcoal run out? The alternatives are plenty,” Barirega said.
He added, “When the trees run out, we shall also grapple with massive environmental degradation and attendant negative impacts. It’s better to act now before we run out of charcoal. Fearing to switch to alternatives is behaving like an ostrich that covers the head and presumes it’s safe”.
Barirega recommended the use of sustainable means of charcoal production for people in rural areas.
“Bamboo and other fast-growing trees can be raised for charcoal. The timber-growing business started in the same way. People used to rely on timber from natural forests until we almost lost the trees. Timber is now grown on a commercial basis. It can then be converted into charcoal using the right species of trees.”
For the urban dwellers, he advised them to embrace gas and hydroelectric power as alternative energy sources. “Briquettes can be made from waste. If you must use charcoal, use charcoal made from waste as opposed to wanton cutting down of natural trees; use energy-saving stoves, etc”.
However, Dr Fred Muhumuza, a senior development economist, insisted that the alternatives Barirega was recommending are too expensive and not affordable.
He questioned why Nema would think they could come in a month and cause change.
“Nema has been around for decades, and it did close to nothing. We need to find ways of enabling people to get access to biomass without destroying the environment. We must plan to identify tree species that can be planted specifically to provide fuel for homes. The trees need to mature faster, have bigger stems, etc. Scientists can support and guide that process. Otherwise, we still have decades of cutting trees. It is not about those burning charcoal, but the users as well”.
Source: The Observer
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