The Government has urged women and young people to move beyond being consumers of clean cooking energy and seize emerging opportunities in production, distribution, installation and servicing of clean cooking technologies.
The call reflects a growing push to position Tanzania’s transition to clean cooking not only as an environmental and health intervention, but also as a source of jobs, entrepreneurship and household income.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on behalf of Deputy Minister for Energy Salome Makamba during an event celebrating President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s recognition as a Clean Cooking Energy Champion in Africa and the launch of the Women and Youth Future Initiative (WYFI), the ministry’s Director of Clean Cooking Energy, Mr Nolasco Mlay, said the sector offered significant opportunities for women and youth.
He encouraged them to explore businesses linked to electricity, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biogas and improved cookstoves, arguing that increased adoption of clean cooking technologies would create demand for local suppliers and service providers.
“Under President Samia’s leadership, clean cooking is no longer viewed as a kitchen issue alone. It is an agenda that touches public health, environmental conservation, gender equality, education, the economy, employment and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Mr Mlay said.
His remarks point to a broader economic opportunity as Tanzania seeks to expand access to cleaner cooking solutions.
The growth of the sector could create opportunities ranging from manufacturing and distribution to equipment installation, maintenance, retailing and technical services.
Mr Mlay said President Samia’s efforts had helped elevate clean cooking to a national, regional and international development priority, with Tanzania increasingly being recognised for its commitment to the transition.
For households, the benefits extend beyond convenience. Greater access to cleaner cooking technologies could reduce exposure to household air pollution while also reducing pressure on forests caused by dependence on charcoal and firewood.
Engineer Raya Majallah, a Projects Engineer at the Rural Energy Agency (REA), said the Government was targeting 80 percent of Tanzanians using clean cooking energy by 2034.
She said clean cooking energy should be efficient, safe, affordable, readily available and easy to use, without exposing users to harmful health or environmental risks.
Engineer Majallah said household air pollution remained a major concern, particularly for women, children and older people who spend more time around cooking areas.
She cited estimates that about 33,000 people die annually from respiratory diseases associated with exposure to cooking smoke, saying wider adoption of clean cooking solutions could help reduce such health risks.
She also linked the clean cooking agenda to environmental conservation, noting that continued dependence on charcoal contributes to deforestation and can worsen environmental and climate-related challenges.
REA, she said, was implementing various initiatives aimed at expanding access to clean cooking energy and helping the country meet the 2034 target.
The economic dimension of the transition was also underscored by WYFI Director and Member of Parliament Asha Baraka, who thanked the Ministry of Energy, through REA, for providing 250 gas cylinders expected to benefit residents of Coast Region.
The initiative comes as the Government seeks to increase the adoption of clean cooking while ensuring that citizens participate in the economic opportunities created by the transition.
For Tanzania to meet its clean cooking targets, however, access, affordability, reliable supply and consumer awareness will remain critical.
Equally important will be ensuring that women and youth have the skills, financing and market access needed to participate meaningfully in the expanding clean energy value chain.