The Ministry of Energy has trained 133 staff from the President’s Office – Public Service Management and Good Governance as part of ongoing national efforts to accelerate the shift to clean cooking solutions.
The training, conducted through the Ministry’s Clean Cooking Energy Unit, is one of the government’s key interventions to strengthen the implementation of the National Clean Cooking Strategy and reduce the country’s reliance on charcoal and firewood.
Presenting the strategy during the session, Engineer Anitha Ringia said the initiative aims to deepen understanding of the health, environmental and economic benefits of clean cooking.
“This training demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring that public institutions lead by example. Through you, public servants, we expect wider national awareness that will reduce dependence on fuels that harm both people and the environment,” Eng. Ringia said.
She noted that the Government will continue working with stakeholders to make clean cooking technologies more affordable and accessible, with a target of 80 percent of Tanzanians using clean cooking energy by 2034.
Eng. Ringia urged participants to use the knowledge gained to promote clean energy adoption in their workplaces and communities.
Acting Head of Government Communications at the Ministry of Energy, Neema Mbuja, said the 2024 National Clean Cooking Strategy also led to the development of a dedicated National Communication Strategy to support public awareness.
“The communication strategy is designed to equip Tanzanians with accurate information through radio, television, social media and public exhibitions. We continue to run nationwide campaigns under the theme ‘Clean Cooking Energy: Save Lives and the Environment’,” she said.
Ms. Mbuja added that the communication plan seeks to reach all demographic groups by using a mix of media outreach, public forums and community-focused training.
Senior Research Engineer at TANESCO, Catherine Mwegoha, highlighted the utility’s role in promoting electric cooking, particularly the use of induction cookers and electric pressure cookers.
“These technologies are safe, affordable and energy-efficient. They have been tested and proven capable of cooking traditional meals ugali, beans, makande, and plantains using minimal electricity,” she said.
Closing the training, Director of Policy Development at the President’s Office – Public Service Management, Cyrus Kapinga, emphasized the public service’s responsibility in advancing clean energy goals.
“As public servants, we must ensure full implementation of the National Clean Cooking Strategy. Every ministry has an obligation to encourage its staff to adopt clean cooking. We intend to introduce an internal initiative to supply ‘positive cookers’ to staff so that the public service keeps pace with this national transition,” Kapinga said.
Participants also witnessed a live demonstration of induction cooking technology, showcasing its efficiency and cost-saving benefits.