Al-Azhar graduate teacher becomes a successful entrepreneur with coconut charcoal business

Living in the Setiu region of Malaysia, 31-year-old Mohd. Hamiz Zahiruddin Zahari started teaching at a private school after graduating from the Sharia law department at El-Azhar University in Egypt. However, after visiting a factory in Kuala Selangor in 2018, he became interested in the idea of producing charcoal from coconut shells and left the teaching profession.

Continuing his venture, which he started with his father's support, for about eight years, Zahari has now reached a production capacity of 20 metric tons per month. The charcoal production process begins with burning the coconut shells in drum barrels for five to eight hours; afterwards, the cooling charcoal is shaped into the desired sizes.

The coconut shell charcoal he produces is particularly preferred for cooking, hookah (shisha) use, and by cafes and restaurants because it produces less smoke and is more durable. In his business, which has a demand of about five tons per week, the entrepreneur, who also provides part-time employment to villagers, aims to make his facility the coconut charcoal collection center of the region.