Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, has urged staff at the Ministry of Energy and its institutions to become role models in using clean cooking energy.
The call comes as part of efforts to implement President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s agenda promoting safe, healthy, and sustainable energy for households.
Dr. Biteko made the appeal while distributing energy-efficient stoves to ministry employees and staff of the Rural Energy Agency (REA) in Dodoma.
He stressed that employees should serve as ambassadors, inspiring their communities to adopt clean cooking solutions.
“Today we distribute these stoves because you are at the forefront of implementing the Clean Cooking Energy Agenda. Your role is to be good ambassadors so that those around you are motivated to use this clean energy,” Dr. Biteko said.
He noted that public awareness about the benefits of clean cooking energy has grown significantly, with usage rising from 6% to 20.3%. The government aims to achieve 80% adoption by 2034.
Dr. Biteko also highlighted that many people in Tanzania, Africa, and worldwide still rely on unsafe cooking energy.
He called on ministry staff and affiliated institutions to provide proper education and guidance to help citizens switch to safer, cleaner energy options.
During the event, Dr. Biteko handed over 220 stoves to REA staff and praised the agency for promoting clean cooking, particularly in rural areas where access remains limited.
He also commended REA for ensuring electricity reaches all 12,318 villages in the country.
Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary, Engineer Felchesmi Mramba, assured Dr. Biteko that all directives would be implemented and pledged full support to achieve the Clean Cooking Energy Agenda’s targets.
Dr. Biteko concluded by urging staff to use the stoves and lead by example, rather than keeping them unused, reinforcing the message that actions speak louder than words in promoting clean energy.