British Army orders more FireDragon fuel
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BCB a contract to provide an environmentally friendly ration heating fuel.
The FireDragon fuel has so far helped to reduce the British Army's carbon footprint, BCB says, and its associated foldable cooker will be yet again issued to British soldiers to help them heat food and drink.
The fuel is manufactured in the UK by Cardiff-based BCB International, and has a high purity of ethanol, is clean, and burns quickly with a reduced cook time compared to other solid fuels, the company says, noting that it is primarily made from renewable waste vegetation.
The MoD used some 2 million packs of FireDragon fuel in the first years of the contract, and has managed to reduce its carbon footprint compared to the previously used toxic hexamine fuel in the process.
‘Hexamine emits cyanide and a lot of noxious fumes such as formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides when it burns,’ Ben Harrison, a chemist at BCB, said.
‘Formaldehyde and ammonia are also used in its production, bringing their own hazards. Hexamine produces a lot of carbon monoxide, especially when compared to FireDragon. FireDragon by contrast emits no formaldehyde or cyanide.’
The new contract will run for four years, and BCB notes that other European militaries are currently evaluating the fuel.
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