Ministry issues tough new charcoal business rules to reverse forest destruction

This is very low compared to over 80 per cent output of the modern methods.”

The ministry is rooting for fast-growing species like Acacia chlorophola and Xyanth flea that the conservancy head says have high calorific value.

The minister clarified that the intention was not to encourage charcoal production but to live with the reality that the business was thriving against the ban.

In 1980, charcoal burning was banned through a presidential decree though it has largely been ignored.

The ministry estimates that apart from eliminating the negative environmental impacts of charcoal burning, the country can earn up to Sh32 billion in revenues from the industry.