By The Respondents Reporter
NAMTUMBO, Tanzania, Oct. 24 — Tanzania is stepping up efforts to promote clean cooking, with Energy Minister Juma Zuberi Homera calling for stronger cooperation among stakeholders to help the country meet its target of ensuring 80% of its population uses clean cooking energy by 2034.
Homera made the remarks on Saturday while leading the Site Trust Nishati Safi Marathon 2026 in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region, an event aimed at encouraging households to shift away from firewood and charcoal towards cleaner alternatives.
He said achieving the national target would require coordinated public awareness campaigns and wider access to affordable cooking technologies.
At the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) exhibition pavilion, Homera commended the utility for introducing a scheme that allows customers to acquire electric cookers and pay for them gradually through their electricity purchases using the LUKU prepaid system.
He urged TANESCO to publicise the scheme more widely, particularly in rural areas, to enable more households to access electric cooking appliances.
“TANESCO is doing good work, not only in implementing electricity projects but also in promoting clean cooking using electricity. I urge you to publicise this cooker financing scheme more widely because it directly affects the lives of people in both urban and rural areas,” Homera said.
TANESCO's communications and stakeholder relations manager, Augustino Kasale, said the utility was using various platforms to educate the public about efficient electric cooking and its potential to reduce cooking costs, protect health and safeguard the environment.
He said the utility would continue implementing its cooker financing programme as part of broader efforts to support the government's clean cooking agenda, adding that public demand for the appliances had been strong.
During the visit, Homera handed over a vehicle to TANESCO's Namtumbo office to improve electricity services for residents in Lusewa Division.
The vehicle is expected to help the utility reach customers more efficiently and facilitate service delivery in the area.
Winners of the Site Trust Nishati Safi Marathon 2026 were also presented with energy-efficient electric cookers, with the aim of encouraging them to promote electric cooking in their communities.
Tanzania's clean cooking campaign seeks to reduce dependence on traditional fuels such as charcoal and firewood while expanding access to cleaner alternatives. The government has identified public awareness and improved access to suitable technologies as important elements in achieving its 2034 target.
