Producers of alternative cooking fuels, particularly charcoal made from solid waste, have been urged to strengthen quality control and adopt scientific production methods to protect consumers and unlock wider markets.
The call was made on August 17, 2026, by the Acting Director General of the Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA), Dr Jamal Msami, when he opened a five-day training programme for producers and other stakeholders involved in alternative cooking energy.
Dr Msami said the growing demand for alternative cooking fuels presented an important economic opportunity, but warned that producers could only benefit sustainably if their products met established quality, safety and health requirements.
“For a business to be productive and profitable, science must come first,” Dr Msami said, commending producers for recognising the commercial potential of alternative energy.
He said the training, being facilitated by the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organisation (TIRDO), was designed to equip producers with practical knowledge to improve production processes and ensure their products were safe for consumers.
“TIRDO is providing training aimed at building your capacity to produce higher-quality products,” he said.
The emphasis on quality comes amid growing interest in alternative cooking fuels as Tanzania seeks to reduce reliance on traditional biomass sources such as firewood and conventional charcoal.
Dr Msami said producers should therefore view quality and consumer safety not merely as regulatory requirements but as essential elements for building sustainable businesses and gaining consumer confidence.
The Acting Director of TIRDO, Mr Humphrey Ndossi, said the organisation was working to strengthen the technical capacity of alternative energy producers so they could add value to their products and meet standards required in both local and international markets.
He said complaints over the quality of some alternative cooking fuel products underscored the need for producers to improve their manufacturing processes.
“Producers should use the knowledge acquired through this training to improve their products and comply with the required standards,” Mr Ndossi said.
He said compliance would also help producers position themselves for emerging market opportunities while ensuring consumers received products that met acceptable safety requirements.
One of the trainees, Mr Omary Ahmadi from Tanga, thanked TIRDO for the programme, saying it had provided producers with knowledge that could improve both the quality and safety of their products.
Mr Ahmadi said some producers had previously entered the business without adequate knowledge of quality standards and consumer health considerations.
Beyond the business opportunity, he said greater use of alternative cooking fuels could help reduce pressure on forests by lowering dependence on firewood and contributing to efforts to address climate change.
The training comes as Tanzania continues to promote cleaner and more sustainable cooking solutions, with the alternative energy sector offering opportunities to address household energy needs while creating new enterprises and employment.
