Representatives from GIEPA, ActionAid The Gambia, GAFNA and UNHCR Counseling Centre on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on GreenTech Environmental Solution in Kololi.
The visit was held to see the latest products processed by GreenTech Environmental Solution on the usage of Biofuel Briquettes with fuel-efficient stoves thus saving the forests.
Speaking during a demonstration of the products, the managing director of GreenTech Environmental Solution, Anthony Tabbal, said GreenTech is a newly established company in The Gambia dedicated to providing sustainable environmental solution to households, industries and institutions.
“Since July 2011 GreenTech has been producing high quality fuel briquettes from groundnut shells and promoting fuel-efficient stoves for cooking and heating purposes in households, restaurants and industries,” he said. “As the combined briquettes stoves unit needs less fuel input than common cooking units, it reduces cooking costs, emissions and the exploitation of forests.”
He asserted that the briquettes are pressed by a heavy-duty machine to produce 800kg-h.
Mr Tabbal added that the stoves are produced with recycled metal by local welder men, adding that briquettes and stoves are available on stock.
The managing director of GreenTech further revealed that over 250,000 euro was invested in his company.
He added that since the inception of the company, he and his wife have been working closely with the Ministry of Forestry and the Environment to ensure the company becomes a reality “as the ultimate aim is to save our forests”.
It took them a two-year research to come up with the company, he said, while calling on all Gambia to use this latest technology which “is the cheapest way of saving our forest”, more economically.
He also used the opportunity to commend the minster of Forestry and the Environment for his personal support in one way or the other in ensuring that the project yields fruit in the country.
He said for more information, one can visit their website or join their weekly demonstration sessions at the plant every Wednesday 11.am in Kololi, Senegambia.
He added that one advantage of rocket stoves is that they can be replicated by local welder men from recycled materials.
For her part, a lady from Kololi, Angilika Anchu Mendy, a yai compin who has been using this method for the past one month, thanked GreenTech Environmental Solution, saying: “This is the fastest and cheapest way of cooking and preserving our forest cover.”
She then appealed to the Gambia government to support the project, “which is here to preserve our forest”.
She also challenged all Gambians to join GreenTech Environmental Solution in the protection of the forest cover.
A regular user of the new technology, Rabby Jallow, explained that if Gambians should adopt this latest technology, years to come “we will restore our forest”.
Madam Jallow further thanked GreenTech for their contribution towards national development. .
During their visit they both called on Gambians to change their attitude and adopt the use of GreenTech’s biofuel briquettes with fuel-efficient stoves to save the country’s forests.
Also speaking at the occasion, the managing director of Zenith Bank Limited, Emeka Anyaegbuna, expressed delight about the latest technology introduced by GreenTech.
He noted that the technology “is real and is the cheapest and fastest” way of cooking. “Even by looking at the flame, it doesn’t bring out flame that will burn your lungs; so it is better to use,” he said. “This latest technology will help in the preservation of our forest. It is fantastic.”
Mr Anyaegbuna said it is gratifying to note that The Gambia is the first country in West Africa to have this beautiful technology.
He also recommended that the hotels should use the technology, adding: “This is a wonderful innovation; it is cheaper and better to use.”
For his part, the Minister of Forestry and the Environment, Hon. Jatto Sillah, said determination and commitment are key to any productive society.
He thanked the managing director of GreenTech and his wife for their wonderful initiative, saying: “This technology will save our forest completely and saving our forest means saving lives, either from environmental disaster, climate change or other uses of forest that are for medical purposes.
Hon. Sillah further expressed worries over the rapidity of environmental degradation in the country. “It is not sustainable at all compared to population growth and population demand,” he said, adding: “Something must be done to arrest the situation.”
