regional wood energy development programme in asia ... - CES (IISc)

provide the bulk of bamboo used as a source of energy. It is particularly suited for the production
of evaporated milk. Owners of evaporated milk-plants prefer bamboo fuel to other biomass fuels
because the fire can be started very fast while the amount of heat generated can be controlled at
will. It is sometimes compared to a blow-lamp. In addition, by using bamboo as fuel, the colour of
the evaporated milk remains whitish which results in a higher price for the product. With other
biomass fuels, the colour is often brownish and this lowers the price of the product.
Figure 3.3 Bamboo fuel cut and bundled into the required dimensions
Hmyin is a common bamboo species in upper and lower Myanmar, in particular in dry soil
types. Under favourable conditions the culms are 50 feet long and 3-4 inch in diameter. However,
in dry locations the size is normally much smaller and the culms are often solid. It is therefore also
called "male bamboo". Substitution with other bamboo species does take place but only in areas
where hmyin is scarce. These generally thick walled species are thaik (Bambusa tulda) and wanwe
(Dinochloa m'clellandi). They are less liked because the heat value of these bamboo species is
lower than hmyin.
3.3 Charcoal
Charcoal is seldom used for domestic cooking in rural areas but it is an important source
of energy for small scale industries such as black-smithies. In urban areas it is used for domestic
cooking as well as in restaurants, tea-shops and noodle shops where instant heating is an essential
requirement.
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