Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has launched the first phase of a clean cooking energy project targeting institutions that serve more than 100 people, covering 52 secondary schools and one Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) college in 18 regions of Mainland Tanzania.
The initiative forms part of a wider 25.8bn/- programme aimed at installing clean cooking energy infrastructure in 453 institutions nationwide.
The project is fully funded by the government through the Rural Energy Agency (REA). Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, launched the project on Tuesday, at Kondoa Girls Secondary School in Dodoma Region, the first beneficiary institution under the programme.
Speaking during the launch, Ms Makamba said the project involves the installation of LPG gas systems, energyefficient stoves and alternative charcoal solutions in the targeted institutions.
She said 53 institutions will benefit in the first phase, while the second phase will cover 400 institutions across all regions of the country. According to the Deputy Minister, the project implements the government’s commitment under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to ensure that all institutions serving more than 100 people use clean cooking energy.
“For this project to be sustainable, I call upon Local Government Authorities, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and TAMISEMI to closely supervise the installed systems. This will encourage communities to emulate public institutions in adopting clean cooking energy,” she said.
Ms Makamba also urged the private sector to take advantage of investment opportunities in the production and distribution of clean cooking energy technologies to increase accessibility and reduce costs.
She further directed REA to promote clean cooking solutions in auction centres, bus terminals and markets. Studies show that Tanzania has 13,763 primary and secondary auction centres and 1,229 fish markets serving large populations that could benefit from the initiative.
She emphasised the need to extend clean cooking infrastructure to all public and private schools to achieve the government’s goal of transitioning institutions serving more than 100 people.
The Deputy Minister encouraged teachers and students to act as ambassadors of change by establishing clean cooking energy clubs in schools to spread awareness within families and communities. Jonas Mbunda, representing the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, commended President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for initiating and financing the programme, saying it protects public health and the environment.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Ministry of Energy’s Director of Clean Cooking Energy, Nolasco Mlay, said the project will significantly reduce the use of firewood and charcoal in educational institutions, promote environmental conservation, improve health and safety for cooks and enhance operational efficiency in schools.
Acting REA Director General, Engineer Jones Olotu, said the use of unclean cooking energy contributes to the destruction of about 46,606 hectares of forest annually for firewood and charcoal.
He added that more than 33,000 people die each year due to unsafe cooking energy, while women and girls spend between four- and eight-hours collecting firewood, limiting time for development activities. He said the government introduced the clean cooking energy strategy to address these challenges by protecting the environment, safeguarding public health and saving time for productive activities.
Engineer Advera Mwijage, REA Director of Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy Technologies, said the project at Kondoa Girls Secondary School cost 54m/-.
The installation includes a one-tonne LPG storage tank capable of supporting cooking activities for approximately two months, as well as an alternative charcoal system produced from sugarcane residues.
The school’s Headmistress, Flora Nusu, thanked the Sixth Phase Government for the initiative, saying it will eliminate health risks for cooks, reduce time spent searching for firewood and lower operational costs by 40 per cent.
