International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Cleaner brick kilns after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal

Arnico K. PandaySenior Atmospheric Scientist

Programme Coordinator, Atmosphere InitiativeInternational Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

Kathmandu, Nepal

BAQ Case Studies SessionBEXCO, Busan, 2 September 2016

The challenge• >90% of brick kilns in Nepal are Fixed

Chimney Bull’s Trench Kilns.

• April 2015 earthquake damaged:– 350 of 800 kilns in Nepal.

– 98% of kilns in the Kathmandu Valley.

• This created an opportunity for cleaner reconstruction.

• As demand for building material was expected to be very high, there was only a short time window to bring changes before kilns were repaired to resume production the next winter.

• The was not enough time to change the kiln ownership structure (family owned firms on leased land) to go to capital intensive

Straight Line versus Zig-zag kilns

FCBTK Zigzag kiln

FCBTK Zigzag kiln

200-400gm1-1.5Kg

What was done

• Significant experience and expertise in India on zig-zag kilns, as well as adding fans (forced draft kilns).

• With funding from the CCAC, ICIMOD, the Federation of Nepalese brick Industry (FNBI), MinErgy, CHeRNpartnered to bring together local brick entrepreneurs, engineers, and architects to develop design manuals to seismically safe, and more efficient and less polluting.

• modifications focused on wall structure, duct and shunt, chimney and floor, as well as optionally adding fans.

• Kilns owners were provided free engineering support for the reconstruction.

The outcome• So far 9 kilns rebuilt according to new design.

• 100s of kiln owners received training; many more are planning to use new design.– When the quake struck many kilns had half-baked bricks

&needed to rebuild the chimney and finish baking those first before doing other design changes.

• Kiln owners used own funds to rebuild (~USD 150K/kiln).

• Rebuilt kilns:– Earthquake-resistant

– Energy efficient (~ 20-30% compare to straight line)

– Lower emitting (~ 20-40% reduction in emissions)

– Better quality bricks

– Expose workers to less pollution.

• Owners of rebuilt kilns are advocating the new design among peers.

Advice for others

• Expected payback period for the investment of USD 150K is just two years.

• From a co-benefits perspective this is a win-win-win-win situation:

– Air quality improvements

– Climate

– Health

– economics

Ability to replicate• Kathmandu Valley is at 1300 meters (~4300 ft).

• Most kilns in South Asia (including the majority in Nepal) are at lower elevations

• =>Different combustion properties.

• Once we have made engineering design adjustments, design can be replicated across tens of thousands of kilns.

THAT SAID, even the rebuilt kilns still pollute. Need to also rethink building materials in South Asia.

Thank youTHANK YOU!