By Abeid Poyo
As the global conversation around sustainable development gains urgency, one question becomes increasingly impossible to ignore: how do we ensure that the basic act of cooking doesn’t come at the cost of our health, environment, and future prosperity? In Tanzania, this question carries a particular weight, and the answer lies in a shift that is both necessary and achievable: clean cooking energy.
For decades, the kitchens of most Tanzanian households—especially in rural areas—have relied heavily on firewood, charcoal, and agricultural residue. These fuels, while seemingly accessible, come with a hidden cost. They contribute to deforestation, cause severe indoor air pollution, and are linked to a rise in respiratory diseases that disproportionately affect women and children.
These impacts are not just numbers on paper. As someone who has walked through villages where the air is thick with smoke from traditional three-stone fires and listened to mothers talk about the hours spent gathering firewood, I understand that this is more than a policy issue—it’s a human one.
That’s why the statement “A Clean Cooking Energy Tanzania Is Possible” is more than an optimistic slogan. It’s a call rooted in the real challenges Tanzanians face and the real opportunities we have to overcome them.
The timing couldn’t be more crucial. Under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the government has launched the National Strategy for Clean Cooking Energy (2024–2034). This landmark initiative signals that the country is ready to make a decisive shift. But for that vision to become reality, we must understand what’s at stake—and what it will take.
Currently, over 85% of Tanzanians still depend on wood and charcoal for their daily meals. This staggering number isn’t just an environmental concern; it’s a matter of life and death. According to health reports, indoor air pollution from dirty cooking fuels is responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year. The burden falls heaviest on women and children, who not only inhale toxic fumes daily but also bear the brunt of time spent collecting firewood—time that could otherwise go to education, work, or rest.
So, what’s the alternative?
Clean cooking energy doesn’t mean the same solution for everyone—it’s about options. From liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and biogas, to solar cookers and improved, energy-efficient stoves, the technologies already exist. The real challenge is access and affordability.
One of the biggest barriers is the initial cost of clean energy equipment. For a low-income family, the price of a gas cylinder or a biogas unit can be out of reach. This is where government intervention is critical. By offering subsidies, eliminating taxes on clean energy tools, and introducing interest-free loans, we can lower the barrier to entry and make clean energy not just available, but truly accessible.
Infrastructure is another hurdle. Clean energy means little if the supply doesn’t reach people where they live. Especially in rural areas, we need serious investment in distribution networks, refilling stations, and solar grids. The public sector can’t do it alone—private companies, civil society organizations, and microfinance institutions must come together to scale up access.
Yet access and infrastructure alone aren’t enough. There’s also a deep need for education and awareness. In many communities, myths persist, like gas stoves being inherently dangerous or biogas being too complicated to maintain. Public education campaigns must go beyond billboards. They need to be rooted in the social fabric: led by community leaders, healthcare workers, and especially women’s groups who can speak from experience.
As a journalist who has spent time listening to rural communities, I’ve witnessed the powerful impact that clean energy can have. I’ve seen homes where a biogas system, fueled by livestock waste, has replaced smoky fires. Children in those homes breathe better, study longer, and eat more nutritious meals. Mothers speak of newfound freedom—time reclaimed from the forest and poured into small businesses or community service.
It’s these stories that remind me: this transition isn’t just about technology. It’s about dignity, health, and hope.
The government’s focus must remain sharpest in rural Tanzania, where the need is greatest. This is where the usage of charcoal and firewood is still dominant, and where the environmental toll is most visible. By piloting village-level clean energy projects, training communities to build eco-friendly stoves, and expanding biogas adoption, we can create a ripple effect of change.
Let’s also not overlook the power of grassroots finance. Through models like Village Community Banks (VICOBA), communities can pool resources and support each other in acquiring clean energy tools. It’s a model that empowers rather than imposes—and that kind of ownership is key to lasting change.
Tanzania has everything it takes to lead the way in clean cooking energy. The policy framework is in place. The technology is available. The will of the people, in many cases, is waiting to be unlocked.
But progress won’t come from the government alone. It requires collective resolve—from policymakers, development partners, local leaders, and citizens who believe that no child should grow up in a smoke-filled home, and no mother should trade her health for a hot meal.
“A Clean Cooking Energy Tanzania Is Possible” is not a dream. It is a vision grounded in reality, driven by action, and powered by the belief that we can do better for our health, forests, and future.
Clean energy isn’t just a solution. It’s a bridge to development, to equality, and to a life of dignity for all Tanzanians.
Abeid Poyo is a journalist with a keen interest in reporting on clean cooking energy. He can be reached at 0754 990 083.