Collecting coal in 60oC pits

Making charcoal is a job of dozens of households in Hamlet 5 of Tan Hiep Commune, Long Thanh District, Dong Nai Province. There are about 300 coal pits in the hamlet. They have been doing the job for 70 years. 

Charcoal kilns are built by brick and clay, with one part submerged and one part on the ground. Each kiln can contain up to 50 tons of fresh wood. Wood is burnt inside the kiln at 700 degrees Celsius for 30 days to turn into charcoal. 

20-30 days after the wood is burnt, charcoal is collected.

"Fire is set every two hours to maintain the temperature in the kiln,” said a worker. 

Collecting charcoal is hard work because the temperature in kilns is very high, from 50 to 80oC.

Normally, a group of 10 people work in turn in one day to take all of the charcoal out of the kiln.

A coal worker drinks water before gettingbackinto the kiln. 

Workers outside classify charcoal.

This man said has pursued this job for 10 years, earning VND5 million/month.

1kg of charcoal is priced from VND2,000 to VND10,000, depending on quality.

The charcoal kilns in Hamlet 5.