The government has stepped up efforts to accelerate Tanzania's transition to clean cooking by reducing taxes on clean cooking equipment as it seeks to expand access to affordable energy and increase the number of households using modern cooking technologies.
The move forms part of the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy (2024–2034), which targets raising the proportion of Tanzanians using clean cooking energy to 80 percent by 2034.
Deputy Minister for Energy Salome Makamba said the government's goal is to ensure that clean cooking solutions become affordable and accessible to all Tanzanians, regardless of their income levels or where they live.
Speaking on Thursday while closing a clean cooking awareness forum in Dar es Salaam, Ms Makamba said the transition to clean cooking is critical to improving public health, protecting forests and supporting the country's broader sustainable development agenda.
"It is time to ensure that every Tanzanian benefits from clean cooking energy. By doing so, we will protect people's health, safeguard the environment and drive the country towards a major clean energy transformation," she said.
She noted that achieving the 2034 target will require coordinated policy reforms and investments aimed at making clean cooking technologies more affordable.
"To attain the target of 80 percent clean cooking adoption by 2034, the government has implemented a number of policy and administrative measures, including removing or reducing taxes on clean cooking equipment. The objective is to lower costs for end-users and encourage wider adoption," Ms Makamba said.
The clean cooking agenda has become one of Tanzania's flagship energy priorities as the country seeks to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal, which remain the dominant cooking fuels for many households.
The shift is expected to help reduce indoor air pollution, curb deforestation and lower carbon emissions while improving the health and welfare of millions of Tanzanians, particularly women and children who bear the greatest burden of exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods.
The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) said it is complementing the government's efforts by promoting electric cooking as a practical and sustainable alternative.
Tanesco Marketing Manager Fredrick Kalinga said the utility is expanding public awareness campaigns while increasing access to electric cooking appliances through various projects.
"We will continue implementing programmes that enable us to distribute more electric cookers to our customers so that more Tanzanians can benefit from clean cooking powered by electricity, which is produced and supplied by Tanesco," he said.
Mr Kalinga added that the utility has also strengthened its customer service systems to ensure consumers receive timely and accurate information on electricity services, a move expected to support greater confidence in electric cooking technologies.
The forum brought together government officials, energy experts, development partners and private sector stakeholders to discuss strategies for accelerating the adoption of clean cooking technologies across the country, with participants emphasizing the need for continued public awareness, affordable technologies and stronger collaboration to achieve the national target by 2034.
