The hills of Burundi are experiencing accelerated deforestation due to firewood and charcoal used in households to cook food. This has harmful effects on the environment. To remedy this, peat can be an alternative, but there is a long way to go to popularize it.

“The National Peat Office (ONATOUR) produces peat according to demand, because it depreciates gradually when stored for a long time. If there was significant demand, ONATOUR would produce a large quantity. It has the capacity to produce between 20,000 and 30,000 tons of peat per year. However, annually, it produces between 10,000 and 15,000 tons of peat,” says Jean Bosco Niyongabo, technical director of ONATOUR.

Production extends over three months during the dry season, from July to September. ONATOUR has five projects in which it uses peat: Gashiru shipyard in Mugongomanga, ku Ruyange in Gisozi, Kidimbagu in Matana, Gitanga in Ryansoro/Matana and Buyongwe in Ngozi. Apart from the worksites operated by ONATOUR, there are other peaty marshes. These include Ndurumu, Nyavyamo, Nyamuswaga...