The target location is a village whose 98 families earn their supplementary income through the production of pottery. Generally, one family is able to produce 300-400 pots per month. The applied baking process has been the open-air type which requires a lot of fire-woods
arranged in a heap upon which the moulded clay is laid. Straw is then laid atop the moulded clay prior to setting fire. 100 pots take 1 hour to bake and require 2 cu.m.of fire-woods approximately.

In one month, the entire village requires 600-800 cu.m. of firewood to fuel the production process and this further worsens the degradation of the surrounding forest.

Under the scarcity of fire-woods, the group has attempted to find a new/renewable source of fuels and the proper process of baking. It was found out that a heat-saving stove capable of burning both rice husk and fire-woods would be proper. This stove is particularly designed by the Centre of Research & Training for pottery production, Department of Science Service. According to the design, the production process is capable of saving up to 50 % of firewood compared to the current process.

Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects):

To demonstrate and promote the adoption of renewable energy in the form of biomass (rice husk) in pottery production process and to reduce the unsustainable use of fire-woods

Activities to be carried out under project:

1. To arrange one study tour for representatives of the group aiming to provide knowledge & experiences regarding energy-saving stove for pottery production
2. To build two energy-saving stoves for demonstration, with capacity of burning 100 pots a time
3. To provide training in building the energy-saving stoves for 40 members by the cooperation from the Regional Centre for Energy Development and Promotion

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1. The direct beneficiaries are members of 98 families of Ban Non Muang.The subsequent beneficiaries would be surrounding villages which would be the target of dissemination.
2. The project participants are responsible staff members of the Department of Science Service, the Regional Centre for Energy Development and Promotion and the Wood Energy Development Group, Department of Forestry.

Anticipated results of project:

1.The quantity of fire-woods required in the pottery production process would be reduced tremendously.
- Rice-husk or agro-waste burning, fire-woods consumption would be reduced by 48,000 kg/month
- Fire-woods burning would be reduced by 30,000 kg./month in energy - saving stoves
2. The target population would recognize the value of rice husk as fuels and continue to use it in everyday living.
3. There emerging groups in surrounding communities utilizing rice husk as fuels.