Tanzania drums for Africa’s natural gas for the access to clean cooking energy

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Energy Minister, Deogratius Ndejembi, has said Africa has a significant opportunity to use its natural gas resources to accelerate access to clean cooking energy for citizens and drive economic development.

Ndejembi made the remarks today, August 5, 2026, in Dar es Salaam during the Africa50 Annual General Shareholders Meeting and the Infra for Africa Forum, stressing that natural gas should not be viewed only as an export commodity but should also be utilised to improve people’s livelihoods.

He said more than 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack access to clean cooking energy, with nearly one billion of them living in Africa, and about 85 percent of this population residing in Sub-Saharan African countries.

According to the Minister, achieving the clean cooking energy agenda requires significant investment in gas infrastructure, regional cooperation and policies that will enable citizens to access affordable clean energy.

He said linking gas pipeline infrastructure between Tanzania and neighbouring countries, including Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, would expand access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), while strengthening energy security in the region.

Highlighting Tanzania’s progress, Ndejembi said access to clean cooking energy has increased from six per cent before 2021 to 28 per cent in 2026.

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He attributed the progress to efforts by the Sixth Phase Government under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has made the clean cooking energy agenda a national priority.

The Minister further said increased use of clean cooking energy has raised demand for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), with imports increasing from approximately 290,000 tonnes annually to 459,000 tonnes in 2025.

However, he noted that significant challenges remain, as about seven out of every ten households in Tanzania still rely on charcoal and other traditional sources of energy for cooking.

He said further efforts are needed in infrastructure investment, public awareness and stakeholder collaboration to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking energy in Tanzania and across Africa.