Traditional Brick Kilns Production Most Contaminating Techniques:experts

Traditional brick production is one of the most contaminating techniques for brick production, resulting in a host of social and environmental impacts including air pollution, climate change, cardio-respiratory diseases, land use impacts and deforestation.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2018 ) :Traditional brick production is one of the most contaminating techniques for brick production, resulting in a host of social and environmental impacts including air pollution, climate change, cardio-respiratory diseases, land use impacts and deforestation.

The experts at three-day workshop on "construction and understanding operations of Zig-Zag brick kilns" highlighted the Zig-Zag firing concept, its advantages and operation of natural drought Zig-Zag kiln.

The workshop was being organized by ICIMOD in partnership with Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), Ministry of Climate Change and All Pakistan Brick Owners Association and Pakistan Engineering Council.

The speakers of the workshop said that traditional brick production in Pakistan consists of hand-made bricks which are backed in fixed Chimney Bull's Trench Kilns (FCBTK), the most widely used brick firing technology in South Asia.

The different kiln type and fuels burned make it difficult to accurately identify the make-up of air polluters emitted by the sector, but they likely include sulfur oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide (CO2), forms of particulate matters including black carbon, and additional compounds released by burning coal and other fuels.

The three-day workshop aimed at providing brick kiln owners not only good construction Zig-Zag brick kilns knowledge, but also practical know how about good practices on brick production process.

Secretary PEC Khadim Hussain Bhatti said that introduction of environment friendly and energy efficient brick kilns is an effort in the right direction.

He said that in the today's session a large number of brick kilns owners and representatives were present highlight the importance of such technological advancement.

He said that the traditional design of brick kiln is not only energy intensive but also put various health hazards and environmental issues. Khadim Hussain said that with the help of modified design as Zig-Zag brick kilns up to 40 per cent reduction in fuel would save millions of Dollars on coal import whereas carbon emission could be reduced up to 85 per cent thus controlling environmental degradation.

"On the other hand, the production of high quality bricks could be enhanced as 50,000 to 70,000 which maximum at present not more than 30,000" he said.

The experts said that the quality production could be improved up to 95 per cent which generally is not more than 70 per cent. The good quality bricks through these kilns are sold from Rs8 to Rs10 where as with traditional kilns are not more than Rs5.

The participants of the workshop also visited various brick kilns for the practical sessions. They were given training about clay preparation, molding, drying and transporting.

The three-day workshop would conclude on September 14. The concluding session include field visit and session on brick stacking in the dug and Zig-Zag firing practices in the model kiln.

Brick Kiln Owners Association president Shoaib Khan Niazi also spoke on the occasion. He assured his full support in creating awareness about the modified design of brick kiln to open new opportunities.