Tucked within the leafy enclave of Chreav Village, Siem Reap province, the engines of sustainable innovation are quietly humming.
ACE Energy Solutions Cambodia (ACE), an eco-conscious business venture, has been pushing the boundaries of ecological responsibility by converting sugarcane pulp and wood chips into eco-friendly firewood.
This remarkable innovation, both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, is attracting a growing legion of admirers.
Seng Chanveasna, sales manager at ACE, recalls the company’s humble beginnings.
“We started operating in 2020, nearly three years ago. Today, we’ve grown to include a factory where we oversee the entire process,” he says.
ACE’s product line extends beyond firewood, with items like eco-stoves also featuring prominently in their catalogue.
The inspiration for their primary product came from an abundance of sugarcane pulp and wood chips in Siem Reap.
“We noticed the waste could impact the environment and the city’s cleanliness,” Chanveasna explains.”So, we wondered if we could transform these materials into high-quality firewood. It seemed like a win-win for our business and the environment”.
Chanveasna admits that turning this concept into a reality wasn’t an overnight success.
“Our unit spent up to two years researching before the finished product was ready for the market,” he said.
Initially, the process was entirely handmade, producing only 30-45kg of eco-friendly firewood daily. However, they later invested in auxiliary machinery, dramatically increasing their output.
“Now we produce 400-450 kg of environmentally friendly firewood per day, or around 30-40 kg per hour,” he reports.
But, it’s not just about the quantity. Chanveasna insists that this firewood can replace charcoal when used with their eco-stoves.
“Sugarcane pulp firewood is easier and more affordable than regular firewood. You only need three pieces per meal, and it’s time-efficient while preserving nature,” he elaborates.
He encourages people to shift towards using eco-firewood and stoves, which don’t require woodcutting or produce harmful smoke, thereby promoting health and environmental wellbeing.
This innovative, environmentally friendly firewood brings substantial convenience to traders and urban dwellers alike.
As for the cost, Chanveasna informs that eco-firewood retails at 8,000 riel per 15 kg, or 500 riel per kilogramme. Their eco-stoves are intelligent devices that help reduce smoke emissions by up to 95 per cent.
“Besides reducing emissions, our eco-stoves also help lower expenditure,” he adds.
The stoves are versatile, capable of using a variety of waste, with the exception of plastic.
“Users can use ordinary firewood, charcoal, palm kernels, palm stem, or coconut shell,” he states.
Having already produced more than 10,000 stoves locally, Chanveasna’s products have found growing popularity in the market.
“On average, we sell between three to five tonnes of environmentally friendly firewood per month. As for stoves, we sell between 250 to more than 300 units per month,” he says,
As ACE’s eco-products fly off the shelves, the future of sustainable energy in Cambodia looks bright, kindled by the innovative spark from Chreav Village.
