Price of briquettes

BanjoSpanner

I just paid €8.99 for one bale of Bord na Mona peat briquettes at the Maxol filling station in Ballinteer 😟

I know the price of fuel has gone through the roof etc., but I thought that was all down to the turmoil in international markets, war in Ukraine etc. etc. etc. But I was under the impression that these briquettes were of Irish origin, no international markets or foreign exchange involved.

So, 'normal' inflation aside, how can this price for a bale of briquettes be justified? I seem to recall they were more like €4.50 a bale this time last year.

magicbastarder

BNM are winding down their peat briquette manufacturing and i think plan to completely cease production in 2024, so they're probably simply not being produced in the same quantities that they used to be.

and a rising tide lifts all boats, including in fuel prices. if people start buying more peat because other fuel prices are up, that increased demand will usually result in higher prices.

Denny61

It can't be justified..only reason the price hike is that the briquette factories have Been forced to close to climate change and the peat bogs been left untouched for carbon soakage..people bought vast amounts of briquettes at 4 euros a bale .only now to cash in on them as only be around for two or 3 years..so people who love the briquettes are now forced to pay 9 euros..

Quitelife

If your lighting a fire going forward your nearly been priced out of doing that.

Went to buy coal the other day , didnt realise no smoke coal anymore been sold ??...only smokeless coal for sale at 19Euro a bag compared to snoke coal 13 euro a bag last year. The smokeless coal appears to have less heat and a dull glow, as if life isnt bleak enough we cant have a decent fire in these cold evenings.

BanjoSpanner

Jaysus. Someone really wants us all to freeze, don't they.

If the carbon doesn't get us, the cold will 🙄

BanjoSpanner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119902848#Comment_119902848

We'll just have to save a few shovels of coal and just the one bale of briquettes for Christmas day.

I'm having visions of Victorian London with dark wet streets, dirty children playing in the mud with holes in their coats and the coal man selling it a penny a lump. It's hard to believe the human race is making progress at all sometimes.

AMKC

That's a crazy price for a bale of briquettes all right. It's because of all the taxs carbon tax and all the rest.

As for coal good. I am glad only smokeless coal is available. Coal is very bad for the environment and even for you in your house.

We really should not be burning it at all.

DC999

Wow. For €9, I can heat our sitting room for 5 days on an electric rad (which is dearer than gas). Cost 20c per hour for the rad.

What about using an electric rad just for one room? I’m doing that at home for downstairs in the house and working perfectly. Using 6 units of electricity per day for the sitting room (5x5) and it’s a cold badly insulated room. But I make sure to keep the door to the hall closed (or can’t heat the room).

Electricity is over twice the price for me than gas (28.5c per unit versus 13.5c for gas) so you need to use sparingly. I find it’s perfect in 1-2 rooms. I don’t use the fire so no idea of costs there. But you can work out how many hours what you bought lasts. Then divide the cost of buying them by that to work out the ‘energy tariff’ per hour for briquettes. My electric rad is on the low wattage setting of 700watts, so costs 0.7 of a unit per hour to run (so 0.7 x 28.5c or 20c per hour). 

Here's what's working for me and others suggest what works for them too: Heating with electric rads and no gas boiler for now — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'

DC999

7 blips for a bale in Lidl at the weekend

893bet

Buying briquettes at the local maxol station and complaint about the price is akin to going to temple bar and expecting a pint for a fiver.