Tanzanian prisons are leading by example in using clean cooking energy, a move that is cutting costs, improving safety, and supporting national environmental goals.
Institutions feeding over 100 inmates have shifted from traditional fuels like firewood and charcoal to affordable alternatives, including coal briquettes and biogas.
Assistant Commissioner of Prisons for Simiyu Region, Mr. Simon Kotti, said the transition has already produced tangible savings.
“Coal briquettes now cost TZS 800,000, which is half the price of firewood. This allows us to reinvest funds into improving prison facilities,” he said.
Bariadi District Prison is also advancing a biogas project, currently in the material procurement stage. Once complete, it will provide another sustainable source of clean energy for cooking, reinforcing the National Strategy for Clean Cooking Energy.
Experts from the Ministry of Energy, led by Mr. Omari Khalifa, praised the prisons for combining innovation with efficiency.
“Using clean cooking energy protects health, reduces environmental risks, and offers significant financial benefits for institutions managing large-scale food preparation,” he said, emphasizing the importance of proper storage for coal briquettes to maintain quality and effectiveness.
The experts also visited Musoma Prison in Mara Region to inspect clean cooking energy infrastructure and observe safe storage practices.
By embracing clean energy, Tanzanian prisons are demonstrating that public institutions can save money, protect health, and contribute to national environmental goals, all while running large-scale operations efficiently.