Charcoal briquettes are solid fuel made from carbonized biomass, or densified biomass that is subsequently
carbonized. In spite of clear advantages of charcoal briquettes that include price, burn time, environmental
sustainability and potential for product standardization, their uptake as a substitute for wood charcoal in
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains very limited. By analyzing the experiences of pioneer charcoal briquette
producers in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania, we identify factors limiting the growth of the industry
in the region and make recommendations for how to address these challenges. Our analysis shows that widespread
adoption of charcoal briquettes is unlikely to have a significant effect on demand for wood charcoal
within SSA, as has been the case in many Asian countries. To date, the availability of charcoal briquettes
has displaced only small volumes of charcoal demand and has increased the energy options for limited consumer
groups within niche markets. Limiting factors for the industry include prevailing low prices of wood
charcoal, punitive legal and fiscal requirements for briquette producers, and supply-driven (versus
market-led) approaches to industry development. Policy, technical and marketing interventions are proposed
to address these barriers and stimulate more widespread production and use of charcoal briquettes
in the region. Our recommendations include marketing studies to better understand consumer preferences
in fuel and stove attributes, better enforcement of existing forestry and charcoal regulations, reduced regulatory
hurdles for registering new briquette businesses, targeted tax exemptions, and expansion of consumption
to new industrial and other consumers.