Kathmandu, October 4:

Brick kiln owners have introduced vertical shaft brick kiln (VSBK) technology in eastern Jhapa and Morang districts from this week.

Jhapa VSBK Industry in Jhapa district, Susweta VSBK Industry and Abhi & Sabhi VSBK Industry in Morang have started production.

According to Suyesh Prajapati, an engineer of VSBK programme, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industries in their respective districts coordinated in organising workshops on VSBK technology to inform the entrepreneurs about the technology.

“VSBK consumes 40 per cent less energy (coal) and emits 30 per cent less pollutant than the fixed chimney brick technology. Thus, it is highly beneficial for the owners as well as helpful in fighting environmental hazards to the country” said Prajapati, who has been providing technical guidelines to the kiln owners for the last three years.

Janardan Neupane, owner of Jhapa VSBK, said: “I decided to adopt this technology, as it is cost-effective as well as environment-friendly.” The VSBK programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is providing the owners with technical assistance. “We also monitor the pollution level and energy consumption at various VSBKs regularly to assure that the technology is functioning with right procedures,” said Prajapati.

Mukesh Upadhyaya, owner of Abhi & Sabhi, said: “We are hopeful that we will be able to run it well and our product will be appreciated.”

The technology was introduced in 2003 under the cooperation of SDC in collaboration with the Department of Cottage and Small Industries after the Industrial Development Board decided to phase out obsolete kilns from the Kathmandu Valley in March, 2002.