Asia-Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategies (APEIS)

Research on Innovative and Strategic Policy Options (RISPO)

Good Practices Inventory

Accelerating Information Dissemination in Small-Scale Brick Kiln Units

through Local Support and Local NGOs
Summary of the Practice

Keywords: Vertical shaft brick kiln (VSBK), pollution control system (PCS), energy efficiency,
environmental pollution, new technologies
Strategy: Improving environmental performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Environmental areas: Air pollution, climate change
Critical instruments: Awareness/capacity-building, Economic instruments, Partnerships, Technologies
Country: India
Location: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka
Participants
1. The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI)
2. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
3. Local industry experts
4. Local industry association and entrepreneurs
Duration: 1994-ongoing
Funding source: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Background:
Brick kiln units are generally located in clusters and scattered throughout India. There are more than
100,000 brick kiln units operating in different clusters located in various states of the country. With a
total production level of about 140 billion bricks per year (year 2000), these brick kiln units are
estimated to consume 24 million tonnes of coal per year along with a huge quantum of biomass fuels.
Brick making has also been identified as one of the most polluting (air pollution) industries in the small
scale sector by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The CPCB initiated enforcement of
environmental standards since 1996 mainly air pollution (suspended particulate matter - SPM) and
minimum heights for chimneys. These standards also ban use of moving chimney brick kilns. The
technical skills available in the brick industry are quite low. The brick industry, which was until now a
technologically stagnant sector, is looking for different technological options that might help meet the
emission standards and achieve energy (fuel) savings in a competitive environment. Technological
options available include shifting the industry towards fixed chimneys and the use of new technologies
such as Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) technology. While fixed-chimney kilns are more suitable for
larger kilns, owners of small-capacity kilns are looking for other options, for which VSBK seems to be
a suitable option. Spreading the technology to different brick-making clusters, however, requires
different mechanisms, such as local support for effective interaction with the brick industry.

The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) under a programme supported by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC) is involved in developing local support such as local technology
providers and local NGOs for accelerating information the dissemination of VSBK technology.

Objectives:
The objective of the TERI–SDC intervention is to enhance the pace of information dissemination with
regard to energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies through local support and local
NGOs, for better and faster adoption of the technologies.

Description of the activity:

A number of activities have been initiated as part of the collaboration between SDC and TERI which
are intended to help in the creation of a conducive environment for faster dissemination of different
technological options. These include creating local support at the cluster level so that information and

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knowledge on VSBK technology are made available within the cluster so that they can be adopted by
local brick kiln units. Adoption of VSBK technology would help in reducing environmental emissions,
improving fuel savings and significantly enhancing product quality. The activities initiated under the
project may be summarised into three distinct phases:

Diagnostic phase (1994-95): This is aimed to assess the energy performance of different types of
traditional small scale brick kiln units. This assessment was done mainly for Bull’s trench kilns (BTKs)
which contribute about 65% of brick production in the country. The study has led to the short-listing
and introduction of VSBK technology, which originated in rural China for small-scale brick making.
Brick kiln units, as discussed earlier, are located in rural areas as clusters. The level of knowledge on
existing kilns and options available to improve the performance are very limited. Therefore, it was
proposed to demonstrate VSBK technology so that it can be adopted under local conditions.

Action research phase (1996-1999): Technology demonstration of VSBK technology was carried out in
four different regions – Madhya Pradesh (North India), Orissa (East India), Kerala (South India) and
Maharashtra (West India). Experts from China (Henan Academy of Sciences) were involved during the
demonstration process. The first VSBK in India was demonstrated during 1996. Demonstrations in
other regions were carried out until 1999. These demonstrations also proved that VSBK technology
could be adopted under local conditions, providing environmental and energy benefits to the local brick
kiln units. The action research phase also helped in developing several options within VSBK
technology based on local requirements such as production capacity, soil type, etc. The demonstration
also led to the development of a partner network. Different partners involved in the process are
Development Alternatives, Gram Vikas, Damle Clay Structurals Private Limited, MITCON
(Maharashtra Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation) Limited and Comtrust Limited, with
Development Alternatives taking a lead role in the demonstration projects.

Pre-dissemination phase (2000 onwards): The pre-dissemination phase of the project focuses on
preparing an environment conducive to accelerating the dissemination of VSBK technology. This
include issues such as environmental and financial aspects, and creating local nodes. Policy dialogue
with environmental enforcement agencies and financial institutions was initiated. This effort has led to
preparation of SPM emission norms for VSBK technology which are being finalised by the CPCB. The
intervention in the brick sector involves developing local nodes who will serve as technology providers
(TPs) at the cluster or regional level. It also involves setting up associated services such as the supply of
auxiliary systems, for example, loading and unloading arrangements through local nodes.

Critical instruments

Overview
Interventions in the small-scale brick sector need to address a number of issues other than technology
viability. These include capacity building and dissemination of technology information among the
stakeholders, which would help in large-scale adoption of VSBK technology. These issues are well
addressed in the TERI-SDC intervention in the Indian brick sector. The programme carried out
technology demonstrations in different regions of the country, as discussed earlier, as well as action-
research and fine-tuning for technology anchoring. Along with these, the intervention focuses on
anchoring information/ technology with local support systems and local NGOs. This was felt to be
crucial, as the local presence and availability of information on technology would help in faster
dissemination of VSBK technology.

Awareness/capacity-building
The present level of awareness among various stakeholders, such as entrepreneurs, industry
associations, technology providers, and policy makers, etc., still remains low in spite of the fact that
several technological options are available and environmental norms have been enforced. The
awareness level among the brick kiln entrepreneurs can be strengthened through involvement of local
support systems. One local support system considered during the intervention was the local industry
association (district or cluster level). It was felt that local industry associations can be effectively

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utilized for improving awareness. For example, technical seminars and training programmes were
organised through active participation by industry associations which had helped in disseminating
information on technology among a large number of brick kiln entrepreneurs. Thus, the existing
activities of industry associations can be extended towards providing technical services along with
dealing other issues such as taxes, labour, etc. These industry associations can also serve as resource
centres for technology and related information services.

Economic instruments
Techno-economic viability is one of the crucial factors for a technology to get accepted in a region. The
viability depends on the type of technology it is competing with. Since the energy saving potential with
VSBK is quite high, in most of the places it works out to be techno-economically viable. However,
there is considerable need for investment (about USD1 7000 to 9000 per shaft of VSBK, which can
produce about 4,000 to 5,000 bricks per day), comparatively higher than kilns such as clamp type kilns,
which require lower investment. Therefore, to meet the upfront costs, there is a need for suitable
financing mechanisms (from financial institutions and banks) to provide loans to the unorganised sector
of the brick industry. The local support systems can play an intermediary role between brick kiln units
and banks.

Partnerships
Partnership with local support systems is an important factor, in order to imparting knowledge, enhance
capacities and promote continuous interaction. Partnership also builds up confidence among the local
support bodies to reach out to the brick industry. TERI is partnering with grassroots NGOs to anchor the
knowledge and information on VSBK technology. TERI is supporting an NGO by providing technical
guidance for demonstration of VSBK in Uttar Pradesh where the NGO is active. Partnership also
provides continuous improvements and provides opportunity for updating information related to VSBK
technology and other related issues in brick sector.

Technologies
The present level of awareness on VSBK technology among the local supporters and local NGO is
limited. Imparting the knowledge on VSBK technology to these local supporters and NGOs is crucial,
as it is they who can actually take forward the information on technology and provide services to the
brick kiln units. This would help in bridging the existing information gap as well as providing the
required support system for the brick industry. TERI provides this technical guidance to local NGOs as
well as local support systems. For example, local masons and contractors are being trained for
construction of VSBKs in the regions of interventions.

Impacts

About 40 VSBKs are operating in different parts of the country, set up by different partners and also by
individual entrepreneurs. Adoption of VSBK has led to significant energy savings (20–50 percent).
Substantial reduction in pollution was also observed in various VSBKs. The level of SPM was observed
to be in the range of 80–200 mg/Nm3 against the environmental standards of 750 mg/Nm3. This may be
attributed to uniform feeding of fuel and proper air distribution inside the kiln. Fuel savings also
directly contribute to reduction in CO2 emissions per unit of brick production.

Lessons Learned

Interventions in small scale brick kiln industry may be attributed to certain lessons that might be useful
for interventions in other small-scale industries. These include (1) creating local support and local
NGOs, (2) strengthening their capacities, and (3) enhancing partnerships that can help accelerate the
information dissemination of adopting VSBK technology in different brick-producing clusters.

1
1 USD ~ Rs 44

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(1) Need to create local support and local NGOs
Brick kiln units are located in clusters in rural areas. These clusters are also quite scattered across the
country. Approaching the units by a single or even by number of organisations is a tedious task.
Therefore there is a need to create local nodes (local support systems and local NGOs) to support the
activities related to improving awareness in the brick-making fraternity and providing required services
to the cluster so that VSBK technology can be adopted in a way that meets local conditions. The local
support would also be required to carry out services such as construction, operation and providing
auxiliary support systems, such as loading and unloading arrangements, which are a prerequisite in
adaptation of VSBK technology. Thus, local support and local NGOs can play an important role in
information dissemination and providing services to the local brick units.

(2) Strengthening capacities of local support and local NGOs

The majority of the local support systems and local NGOs will initially have little knowledge on VSBK
technology. So in order to reach out to individual brick kiln units, it is necessary to upgrade the
knowledge level of the local support systems and local NGOs, which would help them effectively to get
associated with the local brick industry. The capacity building can be done through several forms:
regular interactions; improving awareness on VSBK technology through organising meets, seminars
and workshops; arranging study tours to VSBK units wherein participants are exposed to real
conditions; and providing training on kiln construction and firing. These activities would strengthen the
knowledge and capacities on the brick industry and VSBK technology, which promote better interaction
with the brick industry.

(3) Enhancing partnership

Reaching out to individual brick kiln units, which are in clusters scattered throughout rural areas around
the country, requires huge amounts of manpower and time. Enhancing partnerships with local support
systems and local NGOs and strengthening their capacities, however, would help greatly in reaching out
to brick kiln operators effectively. Dissemination of information can be done at a faster pace through
partnerships with local support systems.

Potential for Application

VSBK technology offers significant energy savings (20–50 percent) and substantial reductions in
pollutions, along with considerable improvements in product quality. Fuel savings also have an effect in
reduction of fuel consumption at the source. A combination of these aspects makes VSBK technology
one of the best technological options for small brick makers.

Contact

For further information, please contact:

N Vasudevan
Fellow
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Centre
Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003 (India)
Tel: 0091-11-24682100/11
Fax: 0091-11-24682144/45
Email: mailbox@teri.res.in

Case reviewer: N Vasudevan, Fellow, TERI; E-mail: nvasu@teri.res.in