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Nationwide Launch of TARA VSBK Subroto Roy sroy@devalt.org T ARA Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) has undertaken commercialization of the Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln Technology. The VSBK technology was developed in India through the support of Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC). The commercialization endeavour has been launched nationally in 2003. The acceleration of growth in the states of M.P.,Chattisgarh and Jharkhand is being supported by the India-Canada Environment Facility, with policy and capacity building support being provided by Development Alternatives. The primary market segment is the replacement of movable chimney kilns and clamps that are threatened with closure due to environmental regulations.
About TARA VSBK TARA VSBK is a highly fuel-efficient brick technology which has been adapted to Indian conditions. In TARA VSBK, raw (green) bricks are fired in a manner such that waste heat is utilized for pre–heating the green bricks, reducing the energy consumption by 30%–40% (in terms of coal) compared to traditional kilns and resulting in substantial reduction in emissions e.g. SPM, NOX. It also overcomes the seasonality aspect affecting the brick industry as the firing operation is done in a covered space and can continue even during the monsoon season. The financial benefits in VSBK result directly from huge savings in coal consumption and an increase in operating margins, resulting from a very short firing cycle in VSBK.
Success with Innovators TARA is the leading technology marketing organization for the TARA VSBK technology. It has identified the two parameters e.g. coal savings and reduced breakages as the key selling point for entry in the Gwalior (M.P) cluster, where all other ingredients were right for the technology. The early innovators have become the brand ambassadors for the VSBK technology. Mr. Narayan Das invested in the new VSBK technology in the year 1997. He was not only convinced but had also become the ambassador for our technology in the Gwalior cluster. Growth with Early Adopters / Innovators After attaining success with the innovators, TARA entered the next phase of promotion and expanded its operations on a large scale across M.P., Chattisgarh and Jharkhand, with a target to set up 70 more kilns by 2005 and 300 VSBKs by the year 2007. The type of entrepreneurs selected are innovators in the new districts and early adopters in those districts where TARA VSBKs are already operational. The profiles of influential entrepreneurs who are assisting the growth of VSBK in their respective markets are presented in the Table below. The expansion of TARA VSBK technology is supported by channel partners, who represent the organization at the local level. Today, TARA has 12 channel partners actively promoting TARA VSBK in the new states. TARA, in close association with channel partners and the support extended by the lead entrepreneurs, has already replaced 20 more kilns in the first quarter of the year 2004 and will replace more than 50 kilns by March’05 in the selected states. The spin-off effect is being realized in other states too e.g. Orissa, Karnataka and Rajasthan. In fact, Orissa is emerging as a major cluster for TARA VSBK in coming years with the help of our active channel partner. TARA Services for the Brick Entrepreneur TARA provides value-added services to entrepreneurs in addition to design, construction and commissioning of TARA VSBK. The three main services are:
Fly ash is the most burning issue in the states of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and other locations within a 100 km radius of public and private power generating units. Brick kilns near these power stations are heading for closure if 25% Fly ash is not added in bricks as per the government notifications. TARA has taken the task of helping entrepreneurs of these affected areas to find solutions with the help of improved mixing technologies like pug mill. qFor more details on VSBK technology, contact: Subroto Roy Head–Sales & Marketing, TARA VSBK Mob : 9811648025; Tel fax : 011-26804482, 26801521 Email : sroy@devalt.org, taravsbk@devalt.org
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