A mesh belt dryer for drying pellets containing brown coal comprising at least one
substantially vertical elongate container having: an upper inlet for receiving a charge of brown coal containing pellets; a lower outlet for discharging dried pellets of brown coal, whereby said pellets travel under the influence of gravity from said inlet to said outlet; two opposing substantially vertical gas permeable walls through which a drying gas can pass to contact said pellets; said dryer also comprising plenums on external surfaces of the gas permeable walls covering ingress and egress openings within the gas permeable walls, wherein the plenums are divided into zones of differing air stream properties and wherein the direction of drying gas flow through the charge of brown coal containing pellets is reversed from one plenum zone to an adjacent plenum zone; the dryer comprising lateral internal membrane walls joining opposing gas permeable walls that divide the dryer into a plurality of adjacent cells.