IN a significant initiative, the Tanzanian government is committed to connecting 80 percent of its population to clean energy for cooking by 2033, according to statements made by Judith Kapinga, the Deputy Minister for Energy, during a parliamentary session on Friday.
Kapinga emphasised that the government has devised a dedicated national strategy to produce and implement the use of clean energy for cooking, aiming to discourage the prevalent use of firewood and charcoal. She highlighted the adverse environmental impact of relying on firewood and charcoal, emphasising the urgency to address the degradation of the country’s forests.
The special national strategy also targets price stabilisation for cooking gas cylinders, with the objective of making environmentally friendly cooking energy affordable for the majority of citizens. Currently, a national task force, led by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and coordinated by the ministry of energy, is actively working to phase out the use of charcoal and firewood for cooking purposes. This move not only aligns with environmental conservation goals but also addresses health hazards associated with traditional cooking methods.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan initiated the formation of the task force in January 2022, with a clear mandate to ensure that 80 percent of Tanzanians transition to clean energy for cooking within the next decade. President Hassan expressed deep concern about the alarming rate of deforestation in regions like Morogoro, Lindi, and Ruvuma due to the production of charcoal and firewood, calling for immediate measures to halt this environmental degradation.