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Charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang 280 km about 3 hours 24 mins from Kuala Lumpur is a coastal town located in Perak, Malaysia. The town was formerly known as Port Weld after a former Governor, Frederick Weld. Interestingly, only thirty year old mangroves are harvested for the logs. It is also enlightening to know that to ensure continuity, those trees which were fell for charcoal making are being replanted.The Chemistry and Physics involved are quite elaborate despite the fact that charcoal is mainly used as fuel. As we all know, all living things have carbon as their main chemical component. Carbon dating is used to determine the age of ancient objects based on the half life radioactivity that carbon emits.Therefore, all living things can be turned into charcoal, including human remains! In order to make the charcoal, it is very important that the temperature of the kilns is controlled accordingly. Too high, the logs will turn into ashes, too low, they will not turn into quality charcoal that burn efficiently.During this process, the headman monitors 24 hours the fire, baking and temperature to attain good quality charcoal. If air circulation is block, the quality is affected and so is the pricing.The baking take approximately 20 to 24 days.Totally baked and carbonized charcoal is left to cool down inside the kiln for another 8 more days.Presently, there are over 100 charcoal makers who has 380 kilns in Taiping.

Text by : Mohd Rasfan Mohd Nor

Click here for full pix :  Charcoal in Malaysia