Alhassan Islam Tarawaly, CEO of Green Charcoal Energy Briquette

Turning Waste into Energy and Opportunity

In Sierra Leone, most households rely on firewood and traditional charcoal for cooking, contributing to deforestation, rising fuel costs, and health risks from smoke. Green energy alternatives, like briquettes made from agricultural waste, offer a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable solution while creating jobs for youth, women, and people with disabilities (PWDs).

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Meet Alhassan Islam Tarawaly

Alhassan Islam Tarawaly, CEO of Green Charcoal Briquette Company Limited, Mustapher Street, Buwaihun section, Kenema, turned necessity into innovation after the birth of his son. Inspired to reduce deforestation and provide affordable fuel, he began transforming agricultural by-products including rice husks, cassava peels, coconut shells, groundnut shells, and elephant grass into eco-friendly charcoal briquettes.

The Breakthrough

Before joining the ILO Opportunity Salone project, Alhassan faced low production (less than 100 cubes/day), limited staff (5 people), small workspace, lack of machinery, poor market access, and low revenue (Le4,200), with no formal business training.

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Providing the skills and tools for expansion

Through the ILO Opportunity Salone Project, Alhassan received training on Business Model Canvas, Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), and GET Ahead, along with new machinery for moulding and grinding, and a mini-factory (40x50 ft) for charcoal production. His staff grew to 21 employees—5 daily workers and 16 full- time (including 6 women and 1 PWD handling finance). They earn Le56,000 for three months annually. Production now reaches 240,000 briquettes per month, packaged into over 3,330 cartons.

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Powering a Local Ecosystem

Alhassan is coached by ILO Business Coach Mary Alpha and engages in B2B partnerships with SMEs like Sierra Bo Garri and trains local suppliers on carbonizing rice husks, cocoa, and cassava peels. His initiatives ensure economic benefits ripple through communities across Kenema, Manokutu, Wundae, and Koinama. He has also helped save over 15,000 household trees, reducing deforestation and promoting green energy.

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“This business has changed my life. Now the world knows me. I have traveled to the USA to showcase my initiative. Our briquettes are not just fuel they represent cleaner air, save more trees, and create jobs for our people, ” says Alhassan.

Why It Counts

Alhassan’s story exemplifies how innovation, resilience, and community-focused entrepreneurship can drive sustainable development. With the right support, training, and tools, agripreneurs can turn challenges into profitable, environmentally friendly businesses.

By the Numbers

• Production: 100 cubes/day → 240,000 briquettes/month

• Jobs Created: 5 → 21 (including women, youth men

  and persons with disabilities)

• Support Received: Business Model Canvas, SIYB, GETAhead training; new grinding and moulding machinery, mini-factory (40x50 ft), mentoring from ILO business coach Mary Alpha

• Markets: Local households, supermarkets, hotels →

  Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and even Spain

• B2B Linkages: Supplies Sierra Bo Garri and other

  SMEs; trains local input suppliers on carbonizing

  rice husks, cocoa, and cassava peels