Samia Friendly Stoves: Clean energy revolution arrives

DAR ES SALAAM: THEY don’t hiss, they don’t smoke and they don’t break your bank account. Welcome to the era of Samia Friendly Stoves that is an innovation so timely in the wake of championing clean energy drive.

In elaboration, Ilala District Commissioner Edward Mpogolo recently called on the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) to go beyond mining and roll up its sleeves with local institutions like Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), Small Industries for Sustainable Development (SIDO) and other technical bodies to ensure these revolutionary clean-energy cookstoves are mass-produced. The message? Tanzanians want more stoves, and they want them now.

“There’s a big challenge,” said Mpogolo during the official launch of Rafiki Briquettes at the bustling International Fish Market in Feri, Dar es Salaam. “Whenever we come for these launches, the number of stoves is very small. If a stove breaks or someone wants another, they can’t find one. It feels like a pilot project, not a people’s solution.”

But it shouldn’t be that way and Mpogolo was having none of it.

Let us take a moment to appreciate the irony: Coal dust, once a pollutant and nuisance, is now powering Tanzania’s green future. Thanks to STAMICO’s innovation, this formerly discarded by-product of mining is now compressed into briquettes efficient, smoke-free and budget-friendly energy alternatives.

“These briquettes are made from coal dust, processed to remove harmful particles and odours,” explained STAMICO’s Deputy Managing Director, Engineer Baraka Manyama. “They are certified by Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), safe for cooking and easy on the environment.”

Imagine cooking ugali, maharage (beans) and Samaki (fish) for five hours with just one kilo of briquettes costing a mere 1,500/-. That’s not innovation, that’s a kitchen miracle.

And here’s the kicker: You don’t need a special stove. Got an old jiko? No problem. These briquettes play well with all types.

Samia’s Stoves: Good for you, great for Tanzania

Back to Feri. The launch event wasn’t just a public relations exercise. It was a celebration of innovation, sustainability and, yes, mama lishe survival.

“These stoves don’t smoke. They don’t make noise. They cut daily fuel costs by over 70 per cent,” said Mpogolo. “One mama lishe told us she used to spend 15,000/- a day on charcoal. Now, two kilos of briquettes (3,000/-) cover her whole eight-hour cooking day.”

Now do the math over a month. That’s rent, school fees, or vitumbua money back in your pocket.

Let’s call them what they are Samia Friendly Stoves. Because they are friends to the environment, health, your wallet and our beloved food.

“I want to applaud the traders of Feri,” Mpogolo told the crowd. “Your love, humility, and hospitality have made every visit special. We’ve come here several times with gas stoves, for Independence celebrations — and you’ve welcomed us every time. Today, you’re still smiling.”

And for good reason. The market is becoming a clean energy pioneer, a showcase for how policy can meet practicality at the grassroots.

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STAMICO didn’t just bring talk. They came bearing gifts 10 demonstration cookstoves for Zone 8, fully kitted with solar-powered fans. That’s not just distribution; that’s empowerment.

Behind the Briquettes: The STAMICO story

STAMICO was established in 1972 and it is a 100 per cent state-owned enterprise tasked with investing in Tanzania’s mineral sector. And they are not just digging holes anymore they are building bridges between mining and sustainability.

Their coal mine in Kiwira, Songwe Region, is not just churning out fuel; it is also generating a cleaner tomorrow. From that mine comes both coal and coal dust. And it’s this dust that now fuels our kitchens.

“We saw this dust contributing to pollution,” said Engineer Manyama. “So, we asked: How can we use it to reduce pollution instead?”

The answer? Briquettes are an innovative, eco-friendly cooking fuel that drives a clean energy solution has already found a home in 29 prisons, hospitals, schools, universities and over 15 factories across Tanzania. Even neighbouring countries are peeking over the fence to get a piece of the action.

Bigger plans, bigger impact

But this is just the beginning. STAMICO has plans that would make even a power-hungry grill blush.

They’re building two major production plants one in Songwe and another in Kisarawe each with the capacity to produce 20 tonnes of briquettes per hour. In November, two more factories open in Dodoma and Tabora (25 tonnes per hour each). Next? Expansion into Geita and Tanga.

And with over 100 million tonnes of coal dust in reserve, they’re not running out any time soon.

To distribute all this energy goodness, STAMICO has set up a nationwide agent network led by none other than Wanawake na Samia women empowered to take these stoves and briquettes to every corner of Tanzania.

“This is an open opportunity,” said Eng Manyama. “Anyone who meets the criteria can become a distributor. With over 60 million Tanzanians, the market is massive.”

But as passionate as Mpogolo was about clean cooking, he didn’t leave without a civic reminder. With elections just around the corner, he made one more plea — this time, to the voters.

“Come out in large numbers on the 29th,” he urged. “Choose your leaders — councillors, MPs, even the president. This is your constitutional right, your future. Don’t be discouraged.”

He was frank. “If you don’t vote, who will you complain to about roads, electricity, or water? But if you do, then yes, demand answers. You’ll have earned that right.”

And to the security forces?

“Do your job with humanity. Protect people and their property. We’re all Tanzanians. Our lives are sacred.”

As the tape was cut and the Samia Friendly Stoves officially launched, the message was clear: This isn’t just about cooking. It’s about innovation, dignity and a cleaner, fairer future for all.

The fusion of mining and motherhood. The unlikely marriage of coal dust and climate action. The merging of technology and tradition. The stove may be simple but the change it represents is revolutionary.

Testimonies of the beneficiaries

These testimonies from both community leaders and everyday entrepreneurs highlight just how transformative this new energy source has been. From saving cooking time and cutting costs to boosting local businesses and empowering women, Rafiki charcoal is proving to be more than just fuel, it is a fresh spark of opportunity.

On her part, Mariam Nyamunda – Women’s Secretary, Nasamia, Kigamboni District said: “Thanks to STAMICO, we have met a new best friend in the kitchen and that is Rafiki Nasamia! This briquette charcoal is not only eco-friendly but also budget-friendly and drama-free. It burns for 3–4 hours straight, and when you are done cooking, just cover it—poof! —it sleeps until you are ready to cook again. No waste, no stress.

Here in Kigamboni, we didn’t just like it, we embraced it! We are proud to be the first district to adopt Rafiki charcoal in full swing. It is cleaner, lasts longer, and makes every cook feel like a pro.

And let’s talk business and that is to say it sells at 1,000/- per kilo through Nasamia women and resells at 1,300/- to 1,500/- depending on the area. So, while it is saving our cooking, it’s also firing up women’s wallets with real income opportunities. Hats off to STAMICO for turning up the heat in the best way possible!

Commenting, Rashidi Kitenge, who is a fish drying businessman at the Feri Market, Zone 8. He said: “Before STAMICO came to the rescue, we were stuck with the usual smoky, dusty charcoal that vanished faster than our profits. We were basically burning money and fish.

Enter Rafiki charcoal and improved stoves, and it is like someone switched us from analog to digital. Clean energy, no smoke, no rush to restock, and most importantly lower costs and higher profits. Business is finally smelling like success, not smoke.

We are so grateful to STAMICO, we are even planning a dedicated storage just for these briquettes. Demand is growing among vendors—mama lishe, baba lishe, everyone wants in. This is not just a fuel; it is a game-changer for Kigamboni and beyond.

Big thanks to STAMICO for sparking this cleaner, smarter way to cook and do business!