The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, today launched a program to provide subsidized electric cooking stoves to employees of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO).
The initiative is aimed at promoting clean energy use and encouraging households to switch to electricity for cooking.
Speaking at the launch in Dodoma, Dr. Biteko said cooking with electricity is cheaper than most people think, especially when using efficient smart stoves.
“Research by TANESCO shows that preparing one meal with an electric smart stove uses less than one unit of electricity, costing under TZS 352. This proves that electricity is affordable compared to traditional fuels such as charcoal,” he said.
Dr. Biteko highlighted that the program will make TANESCO staff ambassadors for clean cooking energy in their communities.
More than 11,000 stoves have already been procured in partnership with the UK’s Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS).
The stoves will be distributed to employees through a revolving fund system, allowing easy access and affordable financing.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, said the initiative is part of the government’s Clean Cooking Energy Strategy led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
She said the program demonstrates how the Ministry and its institutions are turning national priorities into concrete action.
Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Rosemary Senyamule, thanked President Samia for supporting energy projects in the region.
She noted that over the past four years, the government has invested TZS 214.3 billion in rural electrification, benefiting irrigation schemes, health centers, water projects, schools, and security forces.
TANESCO Managing Director, Lazaro Twange, said the program is part of a long-term plan to ensure that 80% of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034.
He urged employees to adopt the stoves and educate the public about their benefits.
Charles Barnabas, representing MECS, said the stoves are energy-efficient and use very little electricity. He also said the ongoing “Cook Smart” national campaign, in collaboration with TANESCO, aims to promote safe, affordable, and clean cooking practices across the country.
Dr. Biteko called on both public and private institutions to learn from TANESCO’s initiative and encourage their staff to embrace clean energy solutions.
He also praised President Samia for championing the agenda of clean cooking energy, which has advanced Tanzania’s energy sector nationally and across Africa.