Charcoal in Africa — Fuel, Deforestation, and Daily Life
Charcoal in Africa — Fuel, Deforestation, and Daily Life
Charcoal and other solid biomass fuels are used in 70% of households in sub-Saharan Africa. Petroleum fuels and electricity remain costly for most families, making charcoal an essential fuel despite its environmental impact.
Charcoal Is King in Africa
In Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital city, charcoal is the primary cooking fuel across all social classes. Although it often costs more than liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), households continue to rely on it because alternatives remain unaffordable or unavailable.
Charcoal is big business. Africa produced 32 million tons of charcoal in 2017, about 62% of the global total, with most used for cooking. According to the World Health Organization, around 2.6 billion people worldwide still cook with open fires or simple stoves using biomass, coal, or kerosene.
Production takes place mostly in rural and peri-urban areas to supply cities, generating income for millions. In some villages, up to 6% of people work in charcoal making, with few other job options. But this heavy dependence comes at an environmental cost — deforestation.
Deforestation: Charcoal’s Hidden Cost
Charcoal is made by carbonizing wood. Roughly five tons of timber are needed to make one ton of charcoal. For every person who uses charcoal, about one acre of forest must be sustainably managed — a requirement rarely met.
Forests cover nearly 23% of Africa’s land surface. Five countries — the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique — hold half of this forest area. Deforestation and forest degradation contribute to 30% of Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions, releasing stored carbon and worsening climate change.
More Than Cooking — The Many Uses of Charcoal
Charcoal isn’t just for grilling. Across Africa it’s used to purify water, smoke and dehydrate food, and fuel metalworking. In areas without electricity or refrigeration, charcoal remains vital for preserving food safely. Store-bought briquettes work well for barbecues, but for other uses, people make their own using methods like the earth mound kiln — one of Africa’s oldest technologies.
FAQ — Charcoal in Africa
Why is charcoal still the main cooking fuel in Africa?
Charcoal is affordable, widely available, and doesn’t require electricity or gas networks. For many families, it remains the most practical fuel option.
Is charcoal production sustainable?
Only if trees are replanted and forests managed. Traditional production uses five tons of wood for one ton of charcoal, driving deforestation where replanting doesn’t occur.
What are the health risks of cooking with charcoal?
Charcoal smoke can cause indoor air pollution, leading to respiratory issues and carbon monoxide poisoning if used in poorly ventilated spaces.
What cleaner alternatives exist?
Improved cookstoves, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biogas, and solar cookers can reduce smoke and forest loss, but cost and access are challenges.
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Charcoal making in Africa dates back thousands of years and originally fueled iron smelting and blacksmithing, shaping ancient trade and technology long before modern energy grids existed.
