B10 Char launches $2M biochar facility to fight drought
South African startup B10 Char has completed construction and is preparing to launch a $2 million biochar production facility in Mpumalanga.
The so-called "reverse coal mining" technology is promoted as a promising solution for carbon capture. Biochar is produced similarly to charcoal by heating wood and other organic waste above 400°C in a pyrolysis kiln without oxygen.
The production process can utilize various forms of biowaste, including food scraps, plant matter, agricultural residues, and even livestock waste.Although biochar can be used as a heat source for cooking, its primary role is as a soil amendment, helping retain water and nutrients—crucial for farmers in drought-prone regions like South Africa.
Biochar is also used in steel and concrete production, road asphalt improvement, and in enhancing soil quality at closed mining sites.
The plant is located at the former Brondal railway station, about 20 km from Nelspruit, and aims to produce 7,000 tons of biochar from 22,000 tons of organic waste in its first year, offsetting approximately 15,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Strong incentives for early adopters
Initially, the company will use sawmill wood chips and other waste materials that are currently being burned and wasted. B10 Char plans to sell its product to farmers and agribusinesses in both raw and “pre-charged” forms.
However, co-founder Philip Edmonds told African Business that convincing buyers to adopt the product won’t be easy. To address this, the company is preparing “extremely attractive” incentives: early users will be able to test the product through a full crop cycle before purchasing.
The plant also expects to earn revenue through the sale of carbon credits to companies looking to offset their environmental impact. If successful, B10 Char plans to install four or five more pyrolysis units on the same site.
As we wrote, South Africans to pay R40 billion over Eskom tariff blunders
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