Punjab: Clay Fired Brick Making Clusters

Introduction

The state of Punjab is among the leading brick producing states in India. Some of the major brick producing clusters in the state include Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozpur and Jalandhar. A majority of brick kiln units use manual process for green brick moulding; however, a few units have started using extruders for the same. The main brick firing technology use in the state is Bull’s trench kiln (BTK). A few units in the state have also adopted an energy-efficient brick firing technology, ‘zig-zag’. The major product of brick kiln is solid bricks. A very few brick kiln units are engaged in the production of resource efficient bricks (REB) such as perforated bricks and hollow blocks. The usual brick making season is December to June.

Products manufactured

Solid bricks; Resource Efficient Bricks (Perforated bricks, hollow blocks)

Number of Brick Kilns

3300

Main fuels

Coal, Biomass

Annual Production

19 billion

Total energy consumption (toe)

1.5 million toe (annual)

Leading industry association(s)

• Punjab Brick Kiln Owners Association
• All India Brick and Tiles Manufacturers Federation (AIBTMF), New Delhi

Source: TERI's interventions in brick sector under projects supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Department for International Development (DFID); Discussions with Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh.