Public institutions spearhead Tanzania’s clean cooking energy campaign

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has intensified clean cooking energy use in public institutions, with selected schools in Dar es Salaam emerging as model adopters of the national agenda.

The schools are the Jangwani Secondary School and Diamond Primary School as among institutions setting the pace in implementing the initiative.

Speaking during an inspection of clean energy systems the Electricity and Renewable Energy Commissioner at the Ministry of Energy, Innocent Luoga announced this noting that it is the government’s plan to ensure that institutions serving more than 100 people daily must phase out firewood and charcoal in favour of modern clean cooking technologies.

Elaborating, he said that the move is part of the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy (2024–2034), which aims to ensure at least 80 per cent of Tanzanians adopt clean cooking energy solutions by 2034.

“I call upon the private sector to join hands with the government in implementing this ambitious 10-year strategy, which has already started yielding positive results in various institutions,” he said.

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Additionally, he said that the systems are being rolled out through the CookFund programme funded by the European Union, currently covering regions including Dar es Salaam, Pwani Region, Morogoro Region, Dodoma and Mwanza.

So far, at least 45 institutions ranging from schools and hospitals to universities—have been equipped with the modern systems.

Meanwhile, the government through the Rural Energy Agency (REA) has entered into agreements with public institutions, including the Prisons Service and the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces, to accelerate adoption of clean cooking energy.

“This shift is already delivering significant benefits, including reduced operational costs, lower carbon emissions and improved health conditions for cooks,” he said.

He also commended the European Union for supporting the CookFund initiative, noting that efforts are underway to scale up the programme to reach more institutions nationwide.