India: Vertical Shalf Brick Kiln Cluster Project
UNFCCC Reference No.: 0582
Using traditional kilns to manufacture bricks results in adverse impacts on the environment. The coal burned in the kilns causes pollutants like suspended particulate matter, nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide. In addition, the baking process consumes energy in an inefficient manner, causing carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions from the sites.
This project will utilize a vertical shaft brick kiln (VSBK), which is an ideal alternative kiln for clay brick producers. The VSBK technology, which was introduced into India from China by the project sponsor, was adapted to suit Indian conditions and environmental regulations and is a viable alternative for small-scale brick manufacturing in developing countries. The process involves an efficient high-energy method of firing bricks, with energy savings of more than 50 percent compared to traditional brick firing methods. The VSBK process will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 36,000 tons a year from 100 operations sites in Madhya Pradesh and other states.
The VSBK technology offers advantages in terms of short firing cycles, incorporation of internal fuel, energy savings and uniform quality of fired bricks. Further and higher savings of energy and improved environmental performance may be possible through training the brick workers, fire masters and brick entrepreneurs. In addition, experience with a number of commercial VSBK kilns, which have been running for the last few years, shows that the more productive the operation becomes, the bigger the improvement in both working conditions and quality of life of the workers.
Carbon Finance Gives the Edge to the Technology
In spite of its advantages, introducing VSBK is not an easy task. The brick industry is a decentralized production activity. Most of the processes involved in brick-making employ low technology levels and archaic techniques. Small kiln owners tend to be risk adverse and reluctant to make the initial investment in a new technology, such as VSBK.
Carbon finance helps the kiln operators to get past the barrier—additional revenue streams from greenhouse gas emission reductions lowers the hurdles of initial investment. The project sponsor, Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA), will act as a “single service window” to support entrepreneurs in responding to the needs of the entire brick producing community. Skilled and stable work opportunities will be created at cleaner production sites, becoming an initial step to improve the clay brick industry.
Community Benefits Plan
At each VSBK, the brick worker community and entrepreneur will be engaged in a dialogue to first establish how the kiln can be operated in an energy saving mode. The enhanced skill needed in a VSBK will be the focal point of this dialogue as it can be a source of motivation for the worker leading to higher wages and higher profitability for the entrepreneur.
Deliverables: Financial contribution to women's groups at each kiln site; life and health insurance; infrastructure; job creation, training and income stability
Timeframe: 2005-2014
Cost: US$3,600 (20% of the entrepreneur's revenue from emission reductions)
| Deliverables |
Description |
| Financial contribution to women's groups at each kiln site |
A contribution will be made to enhance the savings generated by women's groups at each kiln. For every 1000 rupees raised by a Self-Help Group in a year, the CDCF will add 500 rupees. This will be subject to a maximum annual contribution of 4,000 rupees (US$ 90) by the Fund. It is anticipated that each women's group will, in about 18 months, be able to use the money to make loans with interest to other groups. As a result, in 10 years, the brick worker community at each kiln could have as much as 144,000 rupees in the bank accounts. |
| Life and health insurance |
Life and health insurance About 40 people at each kiln could be given life and health insurance (against hospitalization) with the premia (or part thereof) being paid by the Fund. The approximate expected per annum sum is about $200. |
| Infrastructure |
It is envisaged that each community might invest anywhere from $45 to $135 on local community infrastructure. |
| Job creation, training and income stability |
Each kiln will engage approximately 10 brick moulder families (20 adults), 4 to 6 firemasters and about 10 other workers, involved in clay preparation, handling of green bricks and finished products. Additionally, there will be a possibility of year-round employment (as opposed to the current six to eight months). |
Monitoring Plan
Community benefits will be monitored and verified through two parallel mechanisms. The first, facilitated by Community Based Organizations and by the entrepreneur will be fairly extensive and involve: 1) self-documentation and reporting upon community benefits by the brick worker community at approximately 10-20 kilns; 2) reporting upon the application of CDCF funds by the entrepreneur as part of standard documentation procedures.
The second will be based on the case research approach in which selected initiatives, 5 in number, will be followed more intensively and documented to serve as examples of best practice in addressing socio-economic issues of the brick worker community.
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