GTZ opens kiln in Sana’a [Archives:2007/1031/Local News]

By: Moneer Al-Omari
SANA'A, March 7 ) German Technical Cooperation, known as GTZ, launched a gas fired kiln last Monday in the Shamlan Area. The launch ceremony was attended by German Ambassador to Yemen Frank Marcus Mann and Dr. Klingler, team leader of the German GTZ-IWRM component.

The environment-friendly kiln designed and constructed by the German specialist Bernd Pfannkuche aims to help local potters to produce high quality and long lasting pottery by using gas instead of wood, which is expensive, unclean and air polluting.

Most financial costs were covered by the German Embassy in Yemen and the remaining part was provided by GTZ. The plot of land was purchased by a local, Ali Saleh Sa'eed.

All project inputs were locally made and other materials used in building the kiln were locally secured. Regulators, shut-off valves and safety valves together with nozzles were the only imported items. The whole project was prepared in three weeks.

The kiln will produce a wide range of high quality pottery. Building on earlier experience, the project will produce irrigation ceramics which ensure optimal use of water for irrigation purposes. It will also later produce water filters which can be commercially exploited as they will secure clean and safe water for citizens, especially in the countryside where clean water is scarce.

German Ambassador to Yemen Frank Marcus Mann delivered a speech during the launch in which he assured that Germany is trying to allow local people in Yemen to assist themselves and their families, the kiln existing as one example.

He added that German aid to Yemen is unconditional, and that they are meant to help the development of local families, pointing out further that the kiln is intended to produce high quality water filters to secure clean water for locals who find difficulty in accessing safe water.
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