This is an article on the many traditional and cultural uses of charcoal in Sibu
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where is that?
Is this it?
OR here
Google Image Result for http://www.inet.com.my/sibu/pics/asia.jpg
The article ends with a description of their traditional charcoal making process. I find it a little hard to imagine. what do you recon the "cone' is made from -clay, stones, bricks or trees?
Quote:
Although there is no longer a real charcoal factory in Sibu, I can still refer to a good charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang, located in North Peninsular Malaysia, to relate how charcoal is made today. So read on.......
The mangrove forest around Kuala Sepetang is a vital factor for charcoal making in this part. The Chuah's charcoal factory has been in existence since the 1930's.
Mangrove trees which are over 30 years old are harvested, and new ones planted in order to replenish the supply. That area is not to be touched for another 30 years.
The trees are then transported with the high tide into the factory. Trees are then stripped off their bark and then sent to the igloo like cones where the baking process starts.
These cones are all handmade without any architecture drawing design. The master building simply builds them still "out of memory and experience".
A cone is used for around 15 years. Once the cone is finished, the logs are brought inside and heated. The process is in fact very simple and complicated at the same time.
It's all about the right temperature, so the process have to be monitored 24 hours a day.
The logs are standing up inside the cone on stone. Then the cone is almost closed apart of a small hole where a fire is burning. This fire heats up the cone and water will start to vaporise from the logs. Inside the cone there is now a temperature of 220°C.
The first stage of this process takes around 8 to 10 days. The log condition inside the cone is determined by the feel of the smoke that comes out of the holes of the cone. Mr. Chuah and his workers have such an experience that they can tell on the feel of the vaporised water how the condition of the log is.
After 10 days the cone is completely shut off and the baking process continues on a temperature of around 83°C. This takes another 12 to 14 days. Then the cooling process starts, this takes another 8 days before the hole in the cone is opened.
All the water is now vaporised out of the wood and the charcoal should look shiny black. The workers now get the charcoal out of the still hot cone and it is sorted, put in bags or transported in a whole log. Most of the charcoal of Mr. Chuah's factory is exported to Japan. A minor part is used in Malaysia.
Producing charcoal is a time consuming process. Most of the process is manually done. People in Kuala Sepetang, Matang and other small villages in the area have a living from the mangrove charcoal factory.
Note : More later when I can get hold more information on charcoal making.
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sarawakiana: Charcoal and its Uses in Sibu
