NOVELTY - A method for the production of vegetable charcoal with a high carbon content for use in biofuel production, involves an initiation stage in which biomass is pyrolysed with oxygen-deficient hot gas in a column, a transition stage in which hot gas is replaced by air and a stage of continuous production with further replacement of hot gas and increased heat transfer between gas and biomass.    USE - Vegetable charcoal with a high carbon content obtained by this method is used, e.g. in the production of biofuel.    ADVANTAGE - Enables the production of vegetable charcoal with a high carbon content from any waste vegetable material from agricultural sources; the use of this product for the manufacture of biofuel overcomes the disadvantages associated with prior-art biofuels, e.g. dependence on cereals and other particular crops, high costs of synthesis and the conflicting needs of agriculture for food. Another advantage is that the hot gas generator can be switched off when the continuous production phase is established, thus reducing overall energy costs.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A method for the production of vegetable charcoal with a high carbon content (I), involves (a) initiation: pyrolysis of the organic components by circulating hot gas in the column (5) of a reactor (R), with evacuation of the treated biomass at the base of the reactor when the temperature of the layer of material above a grating (4) reaches the temperature of the hot gas, (b) transition: introduction of air to increase the oxygen content of the hot gas, followed by further addition of air to oxidise volatile compounds at the bottom of the column at the level of the grating and having for reasons of functionality to (i) reduce the amount of gas from the generator and increase the amount of gas from the oxidation of organic material and on the other hand (ii) cause the accelerated mineralisation of the biomass, (c) production: implementing the continuous and independent production of (I) by replacing hot gas from the generator with compressed air at the base of the column, enabling increased heat transfer between the gas and the biomass so as to produce (I) with a high carbon content and maintain the temperature in the layer of biomass just above the grating while continuously discharging the product (I). This makes it possible to achieve and maintain an accelerated rhythm of production while adding biomass at the top of the reactor and removing (I) through the grating at the bottom. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for an installation for use with this method, comprising a generator (1) of oxygen-deficient hot gas, a downstream fan (2) for increasing the pressure of hot gas in the lower part of the reactor (R), a reactor comprising a high column (5) with an upper charging inlet for the continuous addition of biomass and a grating (4) at the bottom for supporting and discharging the product, a chamber (3) under the grating for injecting the hot gas, a mechanism for recovering the treated product, a thermal chamber (6) for post-combustion of the evacuated gas at the top of the column, a heat exchanger (7), a second heat exchanger (9) and a vent (10), plus connecting pipes (11-12) for recycling gas between the components and the circuit defined by the components. The installation also includes another circuit between the reactor and the fan which is defined by a compressor group (1a) supplying compressed air during the production phase (c) to replace the gas from the generator.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a diagram of an installation according to the invention. (The drawing includes non-English language text).    hot gas generator (1)    air sources (1a, 6a)    compressor (1-bis)    fans (2, 8)    gas injection chamber (3)    grating (4)    reactor column with upper inlet for biomass and lower outlet for vegetable charcoal (5)    thermal chamber for post-combustion (6)    heat exchangers (7, 9)    vent (10)    pipe connections. (11, 12)