Residents of Tanga Region can now access clean cooking energy at a more affordable cost, thanks to a government subsidy programme by the Rural Energy Agency (REA), which enables households to obtain gas cylinders complete with gas and accessories for just TZS 17,500.
The initiative is expected to help more families move away from firewood and charcoal, reduce household cooking expenses, save time and protect their health and the environment.
Women who have benefited from the programme have welcomed the initiative, saying access to affordable gas will make daily cooking easier and give them more time to engage in income-generating activities and other family responsibilities.
Speaking during the National World Food Day celebrations at Usagara Secondary School grounds in Tanga, REA Engineer David Malima said the subsidy was designed to reduce the initial cost of acquiring gas cooking equipment and enable more citizens to adopt clean cooking solutions.
He said the programme forms part of the government's efforts to accelerate the transition to clean cooking energy and ensure more households can access affordable alternatives to traditional cooking fuels.
For many families, the high initial cost of purchasing gas cylinders and related equipment has been a major barrier to switching from firewood and charcoal. Through the subsidy, REA aims to make the transition more accessible to ordinary citizens.
Aziza Ramadhani, a resident of Tanga who benefited from the programme, commended REA for making gas cylinders more affordable, saying the initiative would help women reduce their dependence on firewood and charcoal.
She encouraged other women to take advantage of the opportunity, while thanking the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan for continuing to promote access to clean cooking energy.
Another beneficiary, Ralma Likate, said using gas had simplified her daily cooking activities by reducing the time needed to prepare meals.
She explained that the time saved could allow women to participate more actively in business, income-generating activities and other development initiatives instead of spending considerable time looking for firewood and preparing meals.
Likate said the availability of affordable gas was an important step towards improving household convenience and supporting women's economic participation.
Fatuma Hatibu, also a resident of Tanga, praised REA for bringing the subsidy programme closer to citizens, noting that the use of gas could help reduce exposure to smoke produced by burning firewood and charcoal.
She said adopting clean cooking energy would not only benefit household health but also contribute to environmental conservation by reducing reliance on wood fuel.
Hatibu urged residents to embrace clean cooking alternatives, describing the programme as an opportunity for families to improve their daily lives while contributing to a healthier environment.
REA is using the National World Food Day celebrations, being held in Tanga from October 10 to 16, 2026, to raise public awareness about the importance of clean cooking energy and inform citizens about available opportunities.
The agency has invited members of the public to visit its exhibition stand to learn more about clean cooking solutions and the support available to households seeking to make the switch.
The initiative highlights the importance of making clean cooking energy affordable and accessible, particularly for low-income households that continue to depend on firewood and charcoal.
By lowering the cost of entry into gas cooking, REA is seeking to help families save time, improve their living conditions and move towards cleaner and more sustainable cooking practices.