Kilwa. Kilwa District has called for increased investment in clean cooking energy, saying wider access to cleaner technologies will be critical to improving household welfare and advancing Tanzania’s clean energy transition.
Kilwa District Administrative Secretary Yusuph Mwinyi made the call during a visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Energy to a clean cooking energy project in the district that is exploring the use of green hydrogen technology.
Mr Mwinyi said cooking energy was a basic household need and urged the Government to continue creating an environment that would encourage investment and enable different clean cooking technologies to reach more communities.
He said expanding access to clean cooking solutions would not only improve the quality of energy available to households but also support the country’s broader efforts to reduce reliance on traditional cooking fuels.
The visit provided an opportunity for government officials and other stakeholders to assess the potential of green hydrogen as an emerging technology in Tanzania’s clean cooking sector.
Nolasco Mlay, Director of Clean Cooking Energy at the Ministry of Energy, said the Government was working with stakeholders to develop a wider range of clean cooking technologies to give households more options suited to their needs.
He said innovative solutions such as green hydrogen could complement existing clean cooking technologies, while stressing the importance of investment, research and private-sector participation in developing the sector.
“Green hydrogen presents an opportunity in Tanzania’s transition to clean cooking energy, but we need continued assessment and public education to ensure its safe and efficient use,” Mr Mlay said.
He said collaboration between the Government, private sector, technical experts and communities would be essential to scaling up clean cooking solutions across the country.
Tanzania has set a target of having 80 per cent of its population using clean cooking energy by 2034, placing greater emphasis on investment, innovation and the expansion of affordable and accessible clean cooking technologies.