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Firewood sales on fire due to LPG hike

10 Nov 2021

BY Sumudu Chamara Owing to the increase in prices of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), there is now an increased demand for firewood, according to firewood sellers, some of whom claimed that meeting the exponential demand has become so arduous that they have halted sales. Several sellers who spoke with The Morning in this regard said that overall, the demand for firewood has increased exponentially, and that meeting the demand has also become an arduous task. One seller said that the demand had soared so high that he has stopped selling firewood because he cannot acquire sufficient firewood to cater to the demand. He added: “We have been selling firewood for around seven to eight years. However, owing to the increase in prices of essentials such as LPG, we are facing difficulties when it comes to procuring the raw materials. Despite this situation, we keep getting requests for firewood. However, due to the said practical difficulties, we have had to put on hold the supply of firewood.” When queried about the price of firewood, he said that even though the price of firewood was always a standard price, owing to the limited availability of the raw materials, the price of firewood may also have to be increased. Due to the inability to cater to the increased demand, one firewood seller said that he has focused on other projects. However, one seller based in the Dehiwala area noted that there has been no increase in the demand for firewood, stating: “People from different strata live in this area, and during the past one and a half months, after the LPG shortage started, we have not experienced any change in the demand.” Meanwhile, an environmentalist said that even though the increased demand for firewood calls for increased supply, a significant change in the damage done to the environment cannot be expected as far as deforestation is concerned, adding that people have been using firewood for a long time. Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle (BCRC) Convenor Supun Lahiru Prakash further told The Morning that the LPG crisis resulted in increased demand, not a new demand that did not exist before. “Most of the time, firewood sold in urban areas comes from plantations such as rubber and cinnamon, which may not cause significant damage to forests. People in rural areas traditionally obtained firewood from forests, and therefore, the demand for firewood from their end would also not increase considerably,” he added.  According to him, the risk of increased air pollution, however, would be an issue, because the carbon emission caused by the burning of firewood is higher than the same caused by the use of LPG. He added that in addition to increased air pollution, it may also affect the people’s health in the long run. The Movement for the Protection of Public Rights (MPPR) Convener Asela Sampath too added that the increased use of firewood as well as kerosene oil causes environmental pollution and health issues. He criticised the authorities for failing to handle the prevailing LPG crisis, and not educating the people on the adverse health effects caused by the use of such alternative sources. Speaking of the supply of firewood, Sampath told The Morning that most of the time, firewood sold in normal markets are made of cinnamon trees, and that owners of lands where cinnamon is grown are benefitting from this situation. “Even though firewood was mostly used by those living in rented residences and those working in free trade zones, nowadays, more and more people have started using firewood,” Sampath said, adding that there are a number of such alternative and healthier sources (coconut shells) which the Government has not taken any steps to promote in order to support the people. The increased demand for firewood comes in a context where several traders had advertised firewood and kerosene oil cookers on their websites and social media platforms as a substitute for LPG, and during the past few weeks, media reports quoted sellers in Colombo as saying that they were running out of kerosene oil cookers faster than before.  


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