In a decisive move to promote clean energy and safeguard public health, the Rural Energy Agency (REA) has distributed 1,611 gas stoves and cylinders to officers and personnel of the Prison Service in Dodoma region.
This is part of a broader national initiative to replace traditional cooking fuels such as wood and charcoal with cleaner alternatives.
The handover ceremony took place on August 6, 2025, at Isanga Prison, where six prisons in Dodoma received the new cooking equipment. Speaking at the event, REA Board Member Engineer Sophia Mgonja underscored the government’s commitment, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, to expand access to clean energy across Tanzania.
“We expect all officers and personnel to embrace this clean energy fully and serve as advocates within their communities. The era of cooking with wood and charcoal must end. This initiative is critical for protecting health, preserving the environment, and improving quality of life,” Engineer Mgonja said.
She highlighted the well-documented health hazards caused by traditional cooking fuels, referencing Shinyanga region where prolonged exposure to wood smoke has led to serious eye conditions among women.
Dodoma Regional Prisons Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner of Prisons (ACP) George Wambura, praised the distribution as a clear demonstration of the government’s dedication to improving the welfare of its officers.
“I call on all officers to consistently refill their gas cylinders and continue using clean cooking energy. We must take a firm stance against reverting to wood and charcoal use,” ACP Wambura urged.
He further noted that since December 2024, all prisons nationwide have transitioned to clean cooking energy sources, emphasizing that dirty fuels contribute to respiratory illnesses and cancer.
Godfrey Chibulunje, REA’s representative, revealed that the agency signed a contract worth TZS 35.23 billion in September 2024 with the Prison Service to supply and install clean cooking infrastructure in prisons across Tanzania.
“In Dodoma alone, 1,611 gas stove sets have been provided to Prison Service personnel, with Isanga Prison receiving 350 sets for its officers and staff,” Chibulunje stated.
REA’s Acting Assistant Technical Manager for Investor Projects, Engineer Emmanuel Yesaya, added that under the contract, the agency will supply 15,126 gas cylinders weighing 15 kilograms each and conduct training for prison personnel on the safe and efficient use of clean cooking energy.
This initiative represents a significant stride toward healthier living conditions and environmental sustainability within Tanzania’s prison system, aligning with the government’s broader clean energy agenda.