TANZANIA: IF you are not aware, Tanzania’s government aims to increase the use of clean cooking energy sources such as Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Biogas, and electricity from less than ten per cent currently to 80 per cent by 2033.
In the first drive, the government has initiated ‘The Tanzania Clean Cooking Project (TCCP)’ of a US$3.75 million three-year project to catalyse private sector participation solely to address household and ambient air pollution, resource efficiency, and climate vulnerability.
This comes with the background that the use of open fires and solid fuels for cooking is one of the world’s most pressing health and environmental problems, directly impacting close to half the world’s population and causing nearly 4 million premature deaths each year.
Women and children are disproportionally affected by this massive global challenge, suffering from toxic smoke, time poverty, and consequences of deteriorating environments.
It is imperative that efforts to expand and improve access to clean cooking are comprehensive and expeditious.
To tackle energy poverty, reach the Sustainable Development Goals, and advance the aims of the Paris Agreement, it is necessary to scale clean cooking.
Equally, by developing a thriving global market for clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels, we can transform the way the world cooks, saving lives, improving livelihoods, empowering women, and protecting the environment simultaneously.
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With a continued focus and targeted implementation efforts, clean cooking can directly deliver gains across 10 of the SDGs and contribute to an enabling environment for achieving the entire Agenda 2030.
Reinforcing this last month in France, the first ever high-level Clean Cooking Summit focused on providing clean cooking access in Africa, where $2.2 billion was mobilised, a significant milestone in efforts to address a challenge affecting women and children.
The event, which took place in Paris, France, was co-chaired by President Samia Suluhu Hassan alongside African Development Bank Group president Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol.
At the country level also during Environment Week celebrations in Dodoma recently, the Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango saw the essence of mobilizing the drive and that culminated in awarding the Taifa Gas Limited with a special distinction for its exemplary efforts in environmental conservation and commitment as championed by President Samia’s campaign of providing Tanzanians with alternative cooking energy sources.
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The ceremony attended by high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, Minister of State, Office of the Vice President (Union and Environment) Dr. Seleman Jafo, Deputy Speaker Mussa Zungu, and environmental advocates was for reminding the public to take measures, which ensure that by 2033, 80 percent of the citizens are connected or use clean energy for cooking.
Receiving the award, Taifa Gas General Manager, Devis Deogratius, expressed the company’s gratitude for the recognition, reaffirming that the company’s commitment is also to support the government’s mission of creating a nation reliant on clean cooking energy.
“Since last year, Taifa Gas has distributed 20,000 gas cylinders valued at 1.52bn/- to underprivileged Tanzanians to advance this campaign,” he pointed out, adding: “Our goal is to achieve a clean energy nation by 2034, and we pledge to continue our partnership with government initiatives.”
Elaborating, he expressed the company’s ongoing efforts on educating the public about clean energy and empowering Tanzanians as agents of change.
He added: “Taifa Gas’s commitment is to ensure the availability of gas to all citizens through a nationwide network of distribution centers. “Mark you, Tanzania loses 400,000 acres of forest annually to the clearing of land for firewood and charcoal.
As a company, we remain steadfast in our mission to support government efforts in mitigating this environmental challenge.
” The GM further said that the award is a testimony of the company’s significant contributions in promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing the quality of life for Tanzanian citizens.
“The government’s recognition of our commitment inspires other corporations to embrace responsible stewardship of the environment and contribute to a cleaner, healthier future for the nation,” he said.