Prison staff trained in biogas stove innovation

ARUSHA: CLEAN cooking energy campaign continues to gain momentum as the Tanzania Prisons Service, in collaboration with the Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation and Rural Technology (CAMARTEC) join forces to train officers in the production of improved cooking stoves that utilise biogas and alternative firewood sources.

Speaking in Arusha over the weekend during the closing ceremony of the training programme, Officer-in-Charge at Arusha Main Prison, Mr Felichism Masawe said clean energy technologies remained crucial for environment protection.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Commissioner General of Prisons, Jeremiah Katungu, he said that the use of clean energy technologies, championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, not only saves time but also plays a critical role in environmental conservation.

He noted that government institutions have begun implementing the clean energy directive, with the Prisons Service achieving 100 per cent compliance.

“In addition to adopting clean energy technologies, we saw the need to empower our officers with practical skills. These skills enable them to implement what they’ve learned in their workplaces, train fellow officers and even pass the knowledge on to inmates, so they can use it for income-generating activities upon release,” said Masawe.

He added that most prison facilities currently use both gas and alternative firewood energy.

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“When gas is unavailable or gas stoves malfunction, we switch to improved stoves that use alternative firewood,” he explained.

Fredy Kivuyo, a mechanical engineer and clean energy expert specialising in biogas and firewood stoves, noted that the training aims to reduce firewood consumption and promote sustainability.

“In the past, institutions consumed up to seven tonnes of firewood in just two days. With these improved stoves, we significantly reduce firewood use, supporting President Samia’s clean energy agenda,” said Kivuyo.

Peter Mtoba, training coordinator from CAMARTEC, emphasised the importance of government institutions adopting these technologies to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal.

“CAMARTEC is actively installing these systems across different regions at household and institutional levels. So far, more than 200 systems have been set up in various institutions nationwide,” he noted.

Acting Director General of CAMARTEC, Boniface Chatila, pointed out the long-term benefits of the training, saying it equips participants with technical skills that can improve productivity and foster economic empowerment.

“This joint initiative between CAMARTEC and the Prisons Service trained seven prison officers in both theory and hands-on practice, covering stove design, cutting, shaping and assembling both gas and alternative firewood stoves,” Chatila said.

“We believe these graduates will serve as ambassadors for clean cooking energy in their respective stations. They even visited Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) to see real-life production of these stoves,” he added.