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Govt hastens clean cooking drive

ZANZIBAR: DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, on Friday announced plans to establish a dedicated unit within the ministry to oversee and accelerate clean cooking energy initiatives across Tanzania.

The move is part of the Samia roots for modern army government’s broader efforts to ensure that all citizens have access to safe, affordable and environmentally friendly cooking energy.

Dr Biteko revealed this during the Clean Cooking Energy Forum at Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, stating that the unit will focus on promoting innovative technologies and expanding the use of clean energy across the country.

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“The initiative comes as part of the government’s commitment to increase the use of clean cooking energy, with a target of 80 per cent of Tanzanians adopting it by 2034,” he said.

The clean cooking agenda in Tanzania began in 2022 and gained significant momentum last year when President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the African Women’s Clean Cooking Support Programme at COP28. The initiative positions clean cooking as a panAfrican priority.

Dr Biteko further said there is a pressing need of creating a safer and healthier environment for cooking, emphasising that access to affordable and easily available clean energy is crucial for improving the quality of life across the nation.

Speaking at the forum, which was organised by the Mwanamke Initiatives Foundation (MIF) in collaboration with the Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) as part of 2024 Kizimkazi Festival, Dr Biteko commended the innovations showcased, particularly the introduction of gas metre for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders.

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“I am pleased to see practical steps being taken. The new gas meter technology will make refilling easier and more affordable, ensuring more Tanzanians get access to clean energy,” he added. Kizimkazi Festival is an annual event held in Zanzibar.

This celebration showcases local culture through traditional dances, music and storytelling. It also features boat races, delicious local cuisine and fosters community engagement.

The festival plays a crucial role in promoting tourism to Zanzibar and highlighting the island’s unique heritage. In addition, Dr Biteko urged stakeholders, including political, religious and traditional leaders, to support the clean cooking agenda by raising awareness in their communities.

He called on companies involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) to collaborate with the government by distributing clean cooking equipment to those in need, emphasising that collective efforts are key to achieving national energy goals. On her part, the Chairperson of MIF, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, said that clean cooking energy has been a saviour for women and has protected their health.

“Clean cooking energy has been a lifesaver for women, protecting their health and helping conserve the environment. I urge all Tanzanians to embrace this energy solution for a healthier and greener future,” she said.

She further said that the adoption of clean cooking energy is a key solution for both environmental conservation and the economic well-being of the country, calling on all citizens to support the movement. Highlighting the global significance of the clean cooking agenda, Dr Biteko pointed out that around 2.4 billion people worldwide still lack access to clean energy, with 933 million of them in Africa.

The minister further noted that 3.7 million people die annually from issues related to unclean energy, with 60 per cent of the deaths being women and children, underlining the urgent need for action. The forum was also attended by the Regional Commissioner of the South Unguja, Ayoub Mohammed Mahamoud, who reiterated the importance of making clean cooking energy a priority at both local and international levels.

“Clean cooking energy is not just a national concern; it is now an international agenda. We will effectively carry out this agenda by educating the public on the benefits of using clean, safe energy,” Mahamoud pledged.

On May this year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) hosted the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, co-chaired by the President Samia, the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, the President of the African Development Bank Group Dr Akinwumi Adesina and the Executive Director of IEA Dr Fatih Birol.

The Summit mobilised 2.2 billion US dollars (about 5.7tril/-) in pledges for clean cooking access in Africa from governments and the private sector and brought forward the Clean Cooking Declaration that states clean cooking is a solvable development challenge that will have a positive impact on the lives of millions of the poorest people on earth, predominately for those in Sub-Saharan Africa.

It further calls for the swift implementation of the commitments made at the Summit, and the establishment of a follow-up mechanism to take stock of progress against those commitments.