DAR ES SALAAM: FOOD vendors and those frying fish at the popular Ferry Fish Market have raised concern over the use of unsafe cooking stoves at the place, hence appealed for installation of cooking gas tank to supply clean energthroughy pipes.
They made the plea yesterday at the fish market during the handing over of a donation of 200 cooking gas cylinders, out of total 700 cylinders for Ilala constituency, from the Oryx Gas Tanzania Limited (OGTL).
Deputy National Assembly Speaker Mussa Zungu, who doubles as Legislator for the constituency, also casted weight behind the concern, saying the situation threatens their safety, hence, asked the OGTL to consider their plea.
In a quick rejoinder, Mr Zungu said the company has agreed to install the tank and gas distribution pipes to each kitchen used by the vendors.
“I am happy that the Oryx Gas has heeded to our request, in the next three to five days they would come here to survey the place for installation works,” Mr Zungu stated.
Market manager Seleman Mfinanga said the place needed cooking gas infrastructure because it was risky when each vendor puts her own gas cylinder.
‘It is unsafe to put many gas cylinders as others use charcoal to cook, making the place very hot inside,” Mr Mfinanga argued.
He also said installing huge LPG tank would relieve them from spending highly on charcoal.
On his part, Ilala District Commissioner Edward Mpogolo, commended area MP Zungu for efforts to find stakeholders to donate gas cylinders, saying the move is in line with the CCM’s Election Manifesto to enable people use clean cooking energy.
Mr Mpogolo stated that food vendor at the market could use up to 100,000/- buying a sack of charcoal, which is costly as compared to cooking gas.
” When they use gas they would protect envirobment and their health. I thank the Oryx Gas for great job you are doing,” he said.
Commenting, OGTL’s Managing Director Benoit Araman argued that when they cook with gas, they bring development and protect their health aganist smokes.
To improve people’s lives, the company has for many years been at frontline in advocating for the use of clean energy.
“This is to support President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s goal of making 80 per cent of Tanzanians use clean energy by the year 2032,” Mr Araman noted.
He added that the Oryx would continue motivating the use of clean energy at family level as well as in institutions serving food to more than 100 people.
CCM’s Regional chairman, Abbas Mtemvu, also said called upon women food vendors who got gas cylinders to seek loan from municipal council to boost their capital.