energy scenario, the forest resources are diminishing and the requirement for wood is
increasing day by day due to the increase in population. However, the production of
firewood is decreasing due to the destruction of our forest cover. The gap between
consumption and recorded production of fuel wood seems to be widening. Urgent steps are
needed to stop unscrupulous felling of trees to prevent more damage to environment and
destruction of our forests. Fortunately availability of agricultural and agro-industrial
residues is increasing day by day due to increase in agricultural production. In spite of very
high-energy potential of these residues, it cannot be used in small/medium gasifiers. The
ideal answer in this situation is to convert these residues into high density (1200 kg/m3
) and
high-value solid fuel (3500 to 5000 kcal/kg), i.e. briquettes [5]. According to our survey of
Gujarat state, it was found that most of the briquetting plants situated in this state have a
die and punch mechanism. The diameter of briquettes produced is 60 and 90 mm size.
These sizes of briquettes are difficult to use in small/medium gasifiers [2]. There is a need to
produce biomass briquettes of smaller diameter