PM restates clean energy deadline

DODOMA: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa yesterday reiterated the government instructions to both public and private institutions that serve meal to more than 100 people to stop using firewood and charcoal for cooking by December 31, this year.

The Premier said the institutions should instead invest in clean cooking energy solutions by December 31, 2024.

Mr Majaliwa was speaking during his tour to inspect the implementation of the government instructions on the use of clean cooking energy in Dodoma Region where he visited Makutupola National Service camp, Isanga Prison and Msalato Secondary School.

He told regional leaders and officials from three different institutions at separate times, the Premier informed them that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had already issued directives and that he was visiting to ensure its implementations.

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“Clean cooking energy is an innovation by our President, who is an expert and champion in environmental conservation. The Head of State has been recognised as a leader in the clean energy campaign in Africa. We should not be surprised if she becomes a global leader in this campaign, as she has already been to Italy and France to deliver lectures on clean energy,” he said.

“Since Africa and the world recognise her leadership, Tanzanians should not be left behind. Amid the ongoing campaign, we have given entrepreneurs the opportunity to start businesses of selling gas cylinders, alternative charcoal and KUNIPOA as ways of transitioning our people from using traditional firewood and charcoal,” he said.

He mentioned that the military, police, secondary schools, higher learning institutions and ministries like those of education, health and agriculture are some of the key sectors that need to change their cooking systems as they serve large numbers of people.

He instructed regional and district leaders across the country to inspect businesses that prepare food for large groups, such as at weddings, to ensure they adopt to clean cooking systems.

“Through the Regional Commissioner and District Commissioner of Dodoma, I direct all regional and district leaders across the country to go and inspect these businesses so that they can change their technologies to align with the use of clean cooking energy,” said the Premier.

He added: “By December, we want to know how many institutions have completed the transition, how many are still pending and their action plans. Our goal is to ensure 80 per cent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2033.”

Earlier, the Chief of National Service (CNS), Major General Rajabu Mabele informed the Premier that they had already begun using clean energy systems at all 26 National Service camps.

He explained that the National Service, in collaboration with the Rural Energy Agency (REA), is implementing a project to provide 291 improved stoves, 180 gas stoves, nine biogas plants and 60 machines for producing alternative charcoal.

He said training for the youth on the new technologies will be conducted by REA.

“The entire project will cost 5.7bn/- with REA contributing 4.34bn/- which is 76 per cent and the National Service contributing 1.38bn/-, equivalent to 24 per cent,” he said.

Moreover, Msalato Girls’ Secondary School Headmistress, Ms Mwasiti Msokola said the school is using alternative charcoal called KUNIPOA, made from sugarcane husks, wood and agricultural residues.

She said that previously they used to spend 4.5m/- each month in buying traditional firewood, but now they save 1.3m/- after switching to KUNIPOA.

For his part, the Commissioner General of the Prisons Service, Jeremiah Katungu, said the Prisons Service in collaboration with REA is implementing a clean cooking energy programme in prisons, which includes 211 facilities. These include 129 prisons, 26 regional prison offices and four prison training schools.