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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Briquette Production: an alternative source of fuel around Virunga
A big hello to those of you who know me - and I look forward to reading your comments! And to those of you who don’t my name is Virginia and I have just re-joined the team here in Virunga to continue working on the Briquette Project - one of the most important pilot projects in this area of North Kivu province.
After 10 months of installing several fuel briquette presses in Bukavu, I am now happily back with my old colleagues to work together on this promising project. I will be pushing side by side with Balemba, who is in charge of this project and the production, and Jean Bosco who runs the training. My job is sales and marketing, so I need to make everything possible to convince people that fuel briquettes are a better option than charcoal!
The other day I met with with all 11 Briquette Press Trainers who will be responsible for installing the press machines in the villages
War and insecurity paralyzed many activities in the park for several weeks last year, including our fuel briquettes program. But we are now well under way and Jean Bosco has successfully trained 14 teams - which means we can achieve a daily production of 7.000 fuel briquettes.
Next week 10 new groups will be trained, which should bring our production up to 12.000 fuel briquettes a day.
Pressing briquettes in Rumangabo - Virunga HQ
Jean Bosco (brown trousers) checking on the quality of the briquettes 
Preparing breakfast yesterday in Rumangabo with Ranger Christian and Elysee
The new ovens to use briquettes - we have modified the design of the stove and after successful tests we now have 500 to sell on the local market.
Our aim is to get the press machines built locally in Rumangabo. We have started refurbishing one of the old buildings, where we will install our own carpentry workshop.
William from SoDeRu inspecting the site - this is a very old and dilapidated building we are refurbishing. We are not able to keep much of it - but we will use as much of it as we can to keep costs down.
I am extremely happy to be back here again - involved in the briquette making process and assisting with marketing and sales that will ultimately be the make or break of this project.
We must make an impact on Virunga and the deforestation within this magnificent park’s boundaries if we are to protect this World Heritage site for generations to come.
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RECENT DONATIONS
- Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
2 x Patrol Rations
Pirjo 30 $ - Medical Kit
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
1 Briquette Stove
Stephen P 7 $ -
Protecting area no. 219 for one month
Christine D 25 $ - Protecting area no. 125 for one month
Karel V 25 $ - Protecting area no. 165 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 132 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 2 x Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Protecting area no. 2 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
Open donation
Betul A 20 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ -
Open donation
Suzanne M 10 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - Protecting area no. 174 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 35 $ -
Multiple items
Lou W 72 $ - Briquette Program
Lou W 30 $ - Briquette Program
Lou W 30 $ -
Protecting area no. 101 for one month
Retrosurfer 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
Open donation
Debbie E 25 $ - Medical Kit
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - Ranger Patrols
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 70 $ -
Open donation
Garrett Z 100 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 35 $ - Open donation
Retrosurfer 50 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ -
Protecting area no. 58 for one month
Harry v 25 $ -
Protecting area no. 91 for one month
Ally R 25 $ - Protecting area no. 16 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 95 $ - Protecting area no. 217 for one month
25 $ - 2 x Emergency Support to Ranger Widows
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 1 Briquette Stove
Unregistered Donor 7 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 20 $ -
Open donation
Elizabeth P 50 $ - Protecting area no. 187 for one month
Corey W 25 $ - Open donation
Maureen B 20 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 45 $ -
Protecting area no. 49 for one month
Minna Maaria K 25 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ -
Briquette Program
Brenton H 12 $ - Protecting area no. 50 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 59 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
Open donation
Mary H 10 $ - Open donation
Caroline 50 $ -
Protecting area no. 31 for one month
De Zutter L 25 $ - Protecting area no. 116 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Protecting area no. 178 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 12 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Protecting area no. 83 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Protecting area no. 54 for one month
Pirjo 25 $ - Open donation
Alex P 40 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ -
Protecting area no. 57 for one month
Zoe M 25 $ -
Protecting area no. 63 for one month
Jane H 25 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 150 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 150 $ - Protecting area no. 10 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 203 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Briquette Program
Liz W 12 $ -
Open donation
Juli&Family R 10 $ - Multiple items
Shashidhar K 62 $ -
Protecting area no. 30 for one month
Sofie V 25 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Protecting area no. 20 for one month
Jessica 25 $ - Patrol Rations
Caroline 15 $ - Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Protecting area no. 65 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 1 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
Protecting area no. 70 for one month
Rebecca T 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 2 x 1 Briquette Stove
Unregistered Donor 14 $ - Protecting area no. 62 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 55 for one month
Pirjo 25 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Protecting area no. 66 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 61 for one month
Pirjo 25 $
- Open donation
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News from Congo
- UN Says 160 Women Raped Each Week in the Congo's Kivu Provinces - BusinessWeek
- One by one, rebels desert from army in Congo - Washington Post
- St. Michael's to host symposium on Congo Wednesday - BurlingtonFreePress.com
- Congo-Kinshasa: Lubanga Witness Says He Was Paid US $200 To Tell Lies - AllAfrica.com
- From 'Oprah' to building a sisterhood in violent Congo - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
- Congo-Kinshasa: ICGLR to Meet On Illegal Exploitation of DRC Minerals - AllAfrica.com
- World Bank injects Shs200b into Nusaf - Daily Monitor
- Katanga posts profit on improving output - Reuters
- From 'Oprah' to Building a Sisterhood in Congo - New York Times
- Congo Lifts Ban on Exports by 16 Mining Companies - BusinessWeek
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34 Responses to “Briquette Production: an alternative source of fuel around Virunga”
Hi Virginia!
Virunga is lucky to have you back. What a phenomenal project! I love the look of the new stoves. Good luck with reclaiming as much of the old building site as you can. It’s very satisfying to use as much extant material as possible and create as little waste — whether or not it is for the sake of counting pennies.
Hello Virginia, nice ‘meeting’ you. I have been reading this blog for less than a year but have been faithful, and very interested in all the Virunga projects. I will be following news of the briquette program closely and wish you, Balemba, Jean Bosco, and all the team continuing success. Good luck, Iris
Thanks Virginia fo your blog. Fascinating information and photographs. This issue is such an important one for the future of so many African parks. That is why I decided to contribute a regular monthly donation to the Briquette Programme to help. Brenton.
Hi Virginia, Welcome back to Virunga! I think they’ve got the best person for the job! You’ll do great at sales and marketing for the briquette project. I know you’ve been working a long time to make this project come alive. You will do it! And with the help of Balemba, Jean Bosco and donors like Brenton, this will be a success. It has to be. You can count on donations from me soon. Okay! Glad your back and really looking forward to more great posts from you on the briquette project. Gorilla Hugs! Lisa
We are extremely lucky to have Virginia back - she has a passion for briquettes and resolving the charcoal crisis that contagious!
Thank you Lisa, Suzanne, Iris, Brenton and Sam for your encouraging words and donations. I am so happy to be back and working with such a promising project! Can’t feel more positive and motivated about it. I have got colleagues that truly believe in the briquettes and most of us are using them at home to cook meals on a daily basis. I will post every week with loads of news from the field. See you very soon!
Virginia, now that I see your photo I realise that I had read your comments here before; I just hadn’t made the connection. Your profile and blog reveal your enthusiasm and dedication to this project and I wish you all the best with it. Iris
Hi Virginia, It’s so good to see you back in DRC. I wish you all the best as you expand the fuel project. Your work is so vital. I’ve been heartened to see the new school project at Rumangabo and wonder how things are going back at Mutsora and Kengele. Have you been able to touch base with folks at the schools? Take care, my dear.
Good idea Virginia and congratulation for the meeting with a new development of ending charcoal.
Great to see you back Virginia!!
TE FELICITO
ESTOY ORGULLOSA DE SER TU AMIGA
TU TRABAJO LA VERDAD POR LO QUE LEI Y POR LO QUE VEO ACA ES ADMIRABLE
TE QUIERO MUCHISIMO AMIG Y TE EXTRANO
CUIDATE
YOLI
good luck Virgina and team x
Querida Virginia,
que alegria saber que has retomado con tanto entusiasmo tu extraordinario proyecto en los Virunga.
Todos tus lectores sienten lo mismo que yo y no te cuento la impresion perdurable que has dejado en Argentina donde la gente no cesa de sorprenderse en saber que una compatriota hace gala de tanta creatividad, generosidad y fortaleza trabajando en un sitio tan maravilloso y a la vez amenazado.
Gracias por tu contribucion a preservar esa joya planetaria que es el Parque Nacional de Virunga y a esas preciocisimas criaturas que son los gorilas de montana.Gracias tambien por ayudar a la gente para mejorar su calidad de vida…
Que Dios te bendiga y te proteja!
Un abrazo del fondo del corazon
Susana (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
So fantastic, getting to the root of the problem. Best wishes.
Great to see you made it back there - shall look forward to reading how it all pans out.
Best of luck!
Mucha suerte Vir !!!! No sabés lo feliz que me siento !!
Ver que estando tan lejos de tu casa has podido encontrar este proyecto que llena tu vida.
Sé lo difícil que ha sido llegar hasta acá, pero también sé de tu energía y entrega en lo que estás haciendo.
Nice to see things back in full swing with the program. I’ve been wondering how much progress has been made lately. And GREAT to see you back as well!!!! I’ve always enjoyed your blogs. I haven’t “seen” Robert lately. What has he been up to? Is he still involved?
[...] I am now based in Goma working with Africa Conservation Fund and their fuel briquettes program in Virunga National Park. Working side by side with the director of the park Dr. Emmanuel de [...]
Hi Pamme! Nice of you to ask about me. I’m still around and working on the funding side of things for the briquette pilot project, writing proposals and also continuing to research improved stove designs that both use fuel more efficiently and burn cleaner.
[...] the map shows with blue dots the location of the 14 presses installed at the beginning of this month, and with green dots, the 10 new ones installed this [...]
SUERTE Virginia. de tu amiga Betty de Venezuela
[...] week we ordered 26 new fuel briquette pressing machines to be built for our pilot Fuel Briquette Program. That means our total number of operating machines on the ground will come up to 50 by the end of [...]
[...] of 6, and married to Charles, one of our 11 fuel briquette trainers. They both work in our pilot fuel briquette program, and Elizabeth leads the group based in Rumangabo. Her group is getting stronger, and this week [...]
[...] continue to reach as many people as possible with our pilot fuel briquette program in the villages surrounding the southern sector of Virunga National Park. Our project consists of [...]
[...] a year of pilot tests to determine the viability of biomass briquettes, it has become clear to all of us that the people of N. Kivu in DR Congo will readily accept [...]
[...] pressing machines are now fully operational on the ground around the Gorilla Sector for our pilot Fuel Briquette Program. April will see 80 new further machines installed and put to work, and thereafter, 100 more [...]
[...] help, we will be able to keep purchasing the briquettes produced from those villagers who have been beneficiaries of our training and pressing machine [...]
[...] up wasting a lot of heat. That is the reason why we have developed the metal improved stove for our fuel briquette program: excellent to be used either with fuel briquettes, but at the same time the combustion chamber can [...]
[...] of all I would like to thank every person who has kindly donated to this Fuel Briquette project. So far we have raised $22,578 - that includes two cheques for $5,000 each: thank you Andrew C and [...]
I can only see long term success as everyone wins through this wonderful project !
Regards
Mark
[...] This is the reality that our Rangers continue to face on the ground, daily. This is also why the briquette program is so important - the fact that rebels are still involved in making money from illegal chacoal is a [...]
[...] ends the Fuel Briquette campaign launched last month to raise $28,897 for the 100 pressing machines and accessories to be [...]
[...] is a general update about our Fuel Briquette Program here in and around Virunga National [...]
[...] Briquette Program is going full steam ahead and production of both briquettes and the presses that make them is [...]