One major achievement of the present civilian
administration in the past twelve (12) years has been the revival and growth of
the non-oil export market in Nigeria. Non-oil export has recorded a tremendous
increase of 112.4 % in nine years spanning 2001 to 2010 with annual average
growth figure of 10.34 %.
Hardwood charcoal is one of the key export commodities in
Nigeria. Though a viable export commodity but the rate at which new entrant are
coming into the business is increasing depleting the rate of return on
investment of the business hence the need to diversify to a product with less
competition and good rate of return on investment.
Sawdust briquette is compressed sawdust and just like
hardwood charcoal is used as fuel. It has a greater advantage over charcoal and
firewood because it is smokeless and combusts for longer hours. The export
market for sawdust is also large, sustainable and expanding.
A briquette (or briquette) is a block of flammable matter
used as fuel to start and maintain a fire.
They are produced from dry sawdust and the resulting compressed dust
comes out in a solid and cylindrical shape. It can also be in different shapes.
The conversation is done through the briquetting machine and the briquette does
not require any binding agent or chemical adhesive.
They are used as cooking fuel in hotels, boarding
school/hostels, eateries and factories where boilers are been used.
The product is marketed according to the grading briefly as
follows:-
Grade "A"- void of cracks, hard with metallic
sound when rolled and lengthy (not more than 4 pcs in a length of 390mm).
Grade "B"- with minimum cracks, hard and not less
than 75mm in length.
Grade "C"- as "B" except the length is
not less than 50mm in length.
During the era of late Gen. Sanni Abacha, sawdust ranked
amongst the leading cooking fuel in Nigeria, due to the scarcity of kerosene.
Sawdust, the chief raw material in the production of sawdust briquette, is
produced as waste product in the processing and production of woods.
The market for sawdust briquette is both local and
international though the international market is more developed than the local
market.
The growing world population continues to fuel the demand
for cooking fuel around the world and due to increasing awareness on global
warming and its effects on the ecosystem, sawdust briquette is cheaper, faster
and better than the regular firewood, natural gas, charcoal and kerosene.
Opportunities exist in the production, sales and export of the product.
The exportable nature of this product makes it a goldmine
for investors who wish to go into the export of the product or for existing
exporters of charcoal to make greater profit as the demand is hot abroad.
The return on investment in the export of sawdust briquette
is between 25% - 35%.