Dar es Salaam. The Ministry of Energy has revealed that 1,136 institutions out of more than 30,000 nationwide that feed over 100 people have successfully transitioned to clean cooking energy.
Despite this progress, stakeholders are being urged to further support these initiatives to meet the national objective of phasing out the use of firewood and charcoal.
Director of Clean Cooking Energy, Nolasco Mlay, said, during the inauguration of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Vaporizer system at Azania Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, sustaining this achievement is crucial to attaining the set targets.
The Azania facility was constructed through a partnership between KAGLA Eco Friendly and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), representing a significant step in promoting sustainable energy within public institutions.
Mr Mlay emphasised that clean cooking energy is a strategic priority for the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, who serves as a champion for this agenda both domestically and across the African continent.
He noted that while the launch of the new plant increases the number of institutions adopting green energy, a substantial amount of work remains to be done to satisfy the current demand.
According to Mr Mlay, only a small fraction of the targeted 30,000 large-scale institutions have made the switch so far.
He stressed that the government requires extensive participation from various partners to achieve the national target of ensuring 80 per cent of the population uses clean cooking energy by 2034.
He highlighted that the contributions of stakeholders such as KAGLA Eco Friendly are vital to fulfilling this ambitious vision.
Speaking at the event, the Headmaster of Azania Secondary School, Melsius Kayombo, expressed his gratitude for the new system, noting that the school accommodates over 300 students.
He explained that the gas project, which the school had been anticipating since 2024, will simplify the cooking process and improve the daily academic schedule.
Mr Kayombo added that the completion of the project will significantly reduce meal preparation times, protect the health of the kitchen staff from smoke inhalation, and ensure that students receive their meals promptly so they can focus on their studies without disruption.
