Push for government oversight on quality of clean energy appliances

Dar es Salaam: Stakeholders in the clean cooking energy sector in the country have urged the government to develop policies to curb the importation of substandard equipment for various uses, including cooking.

United Nations Capital Development Fund – UNCDF (Tanzania)’s CookFund Programme Manager and Senior Finance Specialist, Imanuel Muro stated that there is every reason for the government to develop a policy on the importation of clean energy equipment for public use.

Such equipment includes gas stoves, electric stoves, gas cylinders, and other related tools.

He emphasized that the government has institutions like the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), which is responsible for regulating the quality of imported products, and they should monitor this process carefully.

“It is important that this regulation exists to prevent unscrupulous traders from flooding the market with substandard products that could harm consumers,” he said.

Muro further suggested that the government should consider incorporating clean energy education into school curricula so that students understand the importance of the program from an early age.

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During the discussions, Andres Mendes, a clean energy stakeholder from Kenya, emphasized the need for sharing information about each stage of the global clean energy program so that citizens can be fully aware of its importance.

This UNCDF initiative, which works to raise awareness and stimulate discussions on implementing clean energy programs, is funded by the European Union, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNCDF, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and CookFund.

Among the participants in the meeting were officials from the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), TBS, and the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).