Tanzanians urged to adopt clean energy to curb health, climate crisis

DODOMA: TANZANIANS have been urged to abandon cooking with charcoal and firewood and adopt clean, alternative energy sources to safeguard their health and protect the environment from rapid climate change impacts.

The call was made recently in Mpwapwa District by the Executive Director of the Foundation for Disabilities Hope (FDH), Mr Maiko Salali, during an awareness campaign on Rafiki Briquettes, an ecofriendly charcoal alternative produced by the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO).

Mr Salali noted that the continued reliance on traditional cooking fuels such as firewood and charcoal is among the leading causes of environmental degradation, particularly rampant deforestation.

“The use of dirty energy, especially charcoal and firewood, brings serious health, social, economic, and environmental challenges. We are encouraging communities to embrace alternative charcoal solutions like Rafiki Briquettes to conserve the environment and safeguard people’s health,” he said.

He added that Tanzania, together with the global community, has set ambitious strategies to curb the use of polluting cooking fuels in order to protect current and future generations.

Explaining further, Mr Salali said the alternative charcoal not only safeguards the environment and human health but also offers economic opportunities, allowing people to engage in distribution and sales.

“As an organisation supporting persons with disabilities, we have been granted dealership rights by STAMICO to distribute this product. This initiative economically empowers people with disabilities and reduces dependency,” he said.

He further highlighted that ecofriendly charcoal is particularly beneficial for persons with albinism, as deforestation increases exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer.

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Studies indicate that about 30,000 people die annually in Tanzania from diseases linked to indoor air pollution caused by firewood and charcoal.

Women and children, who spend long hours in smoke-filled kitchens, are the most affected, often developing respiratory complications.

Experts say that using dirty energy is equivalent to spending seven hours cooking per week, while clean energy reduces this to only one hour, allowing users to save time and engage in other productive activities.

E n v i r o n m e n t a l data show that Tanzania loses around 400,000 hectares of forest each year due to human activities, especially tree cutting for charcoal and firewood.

The widespread deforestation is accelerating climate change and threatening the country’s ecological balance.

Mr Salali emphasised that adopting clean cooking solutions like Rafiki Briquettes is key to protecting forests, improving public health, and promoting sustainable development.