Oryx donates 600 LPG cylinders to Bagamoyo entrepreneurs

BAGAMOYO, COAST: THE Oryx Energies Tanzania has donated 600 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to various groups of entrepreneurs, including food vendors, in support of the government’s drive to promote clean cooking energy.

The donation was made during the Bagamoyo Fish Festival held on Friday, which also served as a platform to promote the adoption of clean cooking energy and provide training on the safe use of LPG.

Bagamoyo Member of Parliament, Ms Subira Mgalu, who is also Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, said the initiative would help eliminate health risks associated with the use of firewood and charcoal.

She commended the Oryx Gas for supporting the government’s clean cooking agenda through practical interventions.

“Oryx Gas has been one of the key stakeholders championing the use of LPG. Through the Bagamoyo Fish Festival, the company has joined government efforts by distributing gas cylinders to various groups, including food vendors and fish fryers,” Ms Mgalu said.

She noted that before President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the national clean cooking energy campaign, the country relied heavily on firewood and charcoal, exposing millions of people to serious health risks.

“We know that before the government’s clean cooking campaign, firewood and charcoal were widely used, resulting in severe health effects and causing about 32,000 deaths annually from indoor air pollution,” she said.

Oryx Energies Tanzania Managing Director, Mr Imani Mtafya, said the company donated 600 LPG cylinders worth 48m/- to support the government’s clean cooking initiative.

He said Oryx has distributed a total of 72,000 LPG cylinders worth 5.7bn/- between 2021 and 2026 as part of its commitment to increasing access to clean cooking energy.

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The initiative supports the government’s target of increasing the proportion of households using clean cooking energy to 80 per cent by 2034, up from the current 29 per cent.

Mr Mtafya said the company is also investing heavily in expanding LPG infrastructure to meet the growing demand for clean cooking energy nationwide.

“We are investing 40bn/- in the construction of a new LPG storage facility to strengthen our supply capacity and ensure reliable distribution across the country,” he said.

He added that expanding access to LPG would help reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal, thereby protecting both public health and the environment.

Meanwhile, Bagamoyo District Commissioner Mr Shaibu Ndemanga, who officiated at the festival, praised Oryx Gas for supporting the government’s clean energy agenda.

He said the donation of 600 LPG cylinders demonstrates the company’s commitment to helping communities transition from traditional biomass fuels, particularly fish vendors at Bagamoyo Market who rely heavily on firewood and charcoal for their businesses.