The government has stepped up its push for clean cooking energy, urging Tanzanians to shift away from charcoal and firewood as part of a broader strategy to meet the country’s Development Vision 2050.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Ministry of Energy, Dr. James Mataragio, during a visit to the TANESCO pavilion at the ongoing Energy Week exhibition at the Parliament grounds in Dodoma.
Dr. Mataragio said expanding the use of clean cooking energy, particularly electricity, is central to the government’s long-term development agenda, as it seeks to improve public health, protect the environment and reduce dependence on traditional fuels.
He noted that the upcoming energy budget, to be tabled in Parliament, will prioritise implementation of key pillars under the 2050 vision, including increased access to affordable and sustainable cooking energy.
He added that state institutions are intensifying public awareness campaigns to encourage households to adopt modern cooking technologies.
The Permanent Secretary also commended TANESCO for its role in promoting electric cooking, saying the utility is helping to demonstrate that clean energy is both practical and increasingly accessible.
Contributions from legislators reinforced the growing support for the transition. Manyara MP, Justina Rahhi, said energy-efficient electric stoves could significantly cut charcoal consumption, easing pressure on forests while lowering household costs in the long run.
She stressed the need to extend the technology to rural areas where reliance on biomass remains high.
Special Seats MP from Ruvuma Region, Mariam Nyoka, pointed to improved electricity supply in the Southern Highlands as a key enabler for clean cooking adoption, saying reliable power is already changing energy use patterns in many communities.
The exhibition also featured emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, which were presented as cost-effective alternatives to conventional fuel-powered transport, underscoring Tanzania’s broader shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.
