Producing charcoal by recycling smoke

Namibian-owned Carbon Capital has invested over N$140 million to produce ‘clean’ charcoal by capturing and reusing smoke instead of releasing it into the air.

The company uses a closed production process that captures and recycles smoke, resulting in minimal emissions and pollution.

According to managing director Colin Lindeque, the low-carbon-emission technology has been in operation since 2021, at a time when much of Namibia’s charcoal industry still relied on traditional production methods.

“From the outset, our objective was to develop a production system that meets international environmental standards while remaining commercially viable,” Lindeque said last week.

He said Carbon Capital’s operations are primarily export oriented, supplying international markets where buyers increasingly demand traceability and environmentally responsible sourcing.

“European customers, in particular, are paying close attention to how products are made, where inputs come from and the carbon footprint associated with production,” Lindeque said.

He said the company’s production model also allows for the generation of biochar, which is applied to agricultural soils and linked to carbon removal initiatives.

Biochar is charcoal made from plants and organic waste, used to improve soil quality.

“The ability to produce both charcoal and biochar creates additional environmental and economic value, particularly within an agricultural context,” Lindeque said.

According to the company’s website, Carbon Capital has invested over N$140 million in its ongoing project and is targeting up to 15 000 tonnes of sustainably certified, export-grade charcoal per year.

The company’s website says Carbon Capital focuses on environmentally responsible investments and aims to become a preferred regional project partner with diversified business models.

Carbon Capital’s use of low-carbon-emission technology supports Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan’s environmental sustainability and green innovation goals, which aim to encourage climate-smart, energy-efficient production systems and value addition in Namibian industries.

This aligns with Namibia’s Vision 2030 long-term goal of fostering sustainable, industrialised development while improving quality of life through environmentally responsible economic transformation.

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