Efforts to expand access to clean cooking energy have gained momentum after a team from the Ministry of Energy (Tanzania), in collaboration with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), visited the Tanganyika Wattle Company Limited (TANWAT) factory in Njombe Region to witness the production of alternative charcoal.
The visit, conducted on March 12, 2026, forms part of the government’s broader strategy to promote the use of clean cooking energy in households and institutions as Tanzania works to reduce reliance on traditional charcoal and firewood that contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation.
During the visit, a geologist from the Clean Cooking Energy Unit at the Ministry of Energy (Tanzania), Nsajigwa Maclean, commended TANWAT for investing in the production of alternative charcoal, describing the initiative as an important step toward improving the availability of clean cooking energy in Njombe and neighbouring regions.
He said the government is committed to ensuring that clean cooking energy becomes easily accessible, affordable, safe and sustainable for Tanzanians.
Maclean explained that the presence of the factory will help accelerate the implementation of the national clean cooking agenda by increasing the supply of alternative energy sources.
He also noted that the production of alternative charcoal will support the enforcement of a government directive that prohibits the use of firewood and traditional charcoal in institutions that serve more than 100 people daily, such as schools, hospitals and other large facilities.
According to him, expanding the use of alternative charcoal will help reduce pressure on forests by lowering the demand for firewood and conventional charcoal, which have long been linked to deforestation and environmental damage.
Maclean added that modern technology now allows industries to produce alternative charcoal using agricultural residues and other readily available materials without harming the environment.
For his part, the Centre Manager at Tanganyika Wattle Company Limited, Venkateshwar Rao, said the company manufactures several products but has recently focused more on producing alternative charcoal in response to the growing demand for clean cooking energy.
He revealed that the factory currently produces more than two tonnes of alternative charcoal per day, with production having officially started on November 15, 2025.
Rao said TANWAT is still promoting the product in Njombe because it is relatively new in the market, while also providing public education on the benefits of adopting clean cooking energy.
He noted that increasing awareness among citizens will play a crucial role in expanding the use of alternative charcoal across households and institutions.
The government has been intensifying campaigns to promote clean cooking solutions as part of wider efforts to protect forests, reduce carbon emissions and improve public health by minimizing exposure to smoke from traditional cooking fuels.
