The government has removed Value Added Tax (VAT) on the importation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, bulk LPG facilities, and carbonizers used to produce alternative charcoal, in a bold move to make clean cooking energy more accessible and affordable for Tanzanian households.
Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi announced the decision while opening the Clean Cooking Energy Conference in Morogoro, organised by the Ministry of Energy in partnership with Uongozi Institute.
The event brought together government institutions from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, financial institutions, civil society organisations, as well as producers, distributors, and users of clean cooking technologies.
“This initiative is part of the government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to ensure that clean cooking energy is available to every Tanzanian household. Through increased access to LPG cylinders, modern cookstoves, biogas, and electricity for cooking, we are empowering citizens to adopt safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly energy sources,” said Minister Ndejembi.
He highlighted that TANESCO, through the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, has already enabled 480 households to acquire electric cookers using small incremental payments integrated into their electricity bills.
Minister Ndejembi also pointed out that the government aims for 80 percent of Tanzanians to use clean cooking energy by 2034, with an intermediate target of 75 percent by 2030. Progress is already visible: from just six percent in 2024, the number of households using clean cooking energy has grown to 23.2 percent today.
The minister urged stakeholders to strengthen public education campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits of clean cooking energy and to address misconceptions that prevent its adoption.
He called for innovation and expansion of supply infrastructure, noting that firewood and charcoal still account for more than half of the cooking energy used in households nationwide.
Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima praised the government’s commitment to clean cooking energy, saying it is a national agenda that promotes sustainable development, improves health, protects the environment, and fosters gender equality.
He encouraged citizens to embrace modern cooking solutions and called on local entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in producing alternative charcoal from rice husks.
Representing the Ministry of Energy’s Permanent Secretary, Nolasco Mlay described the conference as a platform for stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, and international development partners to exchange ideas, share experiences, and plan strategies for accelerating access to clean cooking energy across Tanzania.
Chief Executive Officer of Uongozi Institute, Kadari Singo, said the forum also aimed to identify challenges, solutions, and opportunities in promoting clean cooking energy, while fostering collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society.
With the removal of VAT and strengthened partnerships, citizens can now expect easier access to cleaner, safer, and more affordable cooking solutions, a step that promises both immediate benefits for households and long-term gains for the nation’s health and environment.
