Dodoma, Tanzania | 17 February 2026 — The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has officially launched Phase 1 of a nationwide clean cooking energy programme targeting institutions that serve more than 100 people, marking a major step toward sustainable energy transition and environmental protection.
The Deputy Minister for Energy, Hon. Salome Makamba, inaugurated the initiative at Kondoa Girls’ Secondary School in Dodoma Region — the first beneficiary under the programme. The initial rollout covers 52 secondary schools and one Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) college across 18 regions of Mainland Tanzania.
The project forms part of a broader national programme valued at TZS 25.8 billion, aimed at installing clean cooking energy infrastructure in 453 institutions nationwide. The initiative is fully financed by the Government through the Rural Energy Agency (REA).
Phase I will benefit 53 institutions, while Phase II will extend services to the remaining 400 institutions across all regions. The programme includes the installation of LPG gas systems, improved cookstoves, and alternative charcoal solutions.
Hon. Makamba emphasized that the initiative reflects the Government’s commitment under the leadership of President H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan to ensure that all institutions serving more than 100 people transition to clean cooking energy solutions.
She called upon Local Government Authorities, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and TAMISEMI to ensure proper oversight and sustainability of the installed systems. She also encouraged private sector participation in the production and distribution of clean cooking technologies to increase access and reduce costs.
In addition, the Deputy Minister directed REA to accelerate clean cooking adoption in high-traffic public areas such as livestock auction markets, bus terminals, and marketplaces. Data indicates that Tanzania has approximately 13,763 auction markets and 1,229 fish markets, which serve large populations and present significant opportunities for clean energy deployment.
Government officials highlighted the environmental and health rationale behind the initiative. According to REA, approximately 46,606 hectares of forest are lost annually due to firewood and charcoal use. More than 33,000 deaths per year are attributed to the effects of unclean cooking energy, while women and girls spend between four and eight hours daily collecting firewood.
The clean cooking installation at Kondoa Girls’ Secondary School, valued at TZS 54 million, includes a one-tonne LPG storage tank capable of sustaining cooking operations for approximately two months, alongside a system using alternative charcoal derived from sugarcane by-products.
School leadership welcomed the project, noting that it will reduce health risks for kitchen staff, improve operational efficiency, and lower cooking-related costs by approximately 40 percent.
The initiative aligns with Tanzania’s broader clean energy transition strategy aimed at safeguarding public health, protecting forests, empowering women and youth, and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.
