Siha District residents have been urged to adopt clean cooking energy as authorities step up efforts to curb tree cutting and protect the environment around Mount Kilimanjaro.
Siha District Commissioner Dr Christopher Timbuka said liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electricity were available in various parts of the district, with government subsidies intended to make clean cooking options more affordable and accessible to households.
He made the remarks during a tree-planting exercise and clean cooking energy awareness campaign at Sanya Juu Market, organised by environmental and clean energy stakeholders under The Guardians of the Peak initiative.
The campaign seeks to reduce dependence on firewood and conventional charcoal, which contribute to pressure on forests, while encouraging residents to take greater responsibility for environmental conservation.
Dr Timbuka urged residents not only to adopt cleaner cooking alternatives but also to plant and protect trees, saying sustained conservation efforts were necessary to safeguard the district’s environment.
“Clean cooking energy is available in various parts of the district, and government subsidies are intended to reduce the cost and ease access for residents,” he said.
Chief Geologist at the Ministry of Energy Ngereja Mgejwa said educating communities about clean cooking was part of wider efforts to address environmental degradation associated with traditional cooking fuels.
He encouraged residents to use alternatives available in their localities, including electricity, gas and alternative charcoal, to accelerate the shift towards cleaner household energy.
The campaign comes as the government pursues a target of ensuring that 80 per cent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034, a transition that requires households to access affordable alternatives to conventional fuels.
For many households, the cost and availability of cooking energy remain important considerations when deciding whether to move away from firewood and charcoal. Government subsidies and the wider availability of clean cooking options are therefore expected to play a role in encouraging adoption.
During the exercise, stakeholders handed gas cylinders to representatives of various groups as an incentive to encourage the use of cleaner cooking fuels.
The initiative also combined clean energy awareness with tree planting, linking changes in household cooking practices with efforts to protect the natural environment around Mount Kilimanjaro.
However, sustaining the transition will depend on households being able to afford the fuel needed to use the equipment after receiving the initial support, alongside continued public education and access to reliable energy supplies.
The campaign forms part of broader efforts to promote cleaner cooking practices, reduce pressure on forests and support the government’s 2034 target.