Taifa Gas Reiterates Its Commitment To Continuing To Champion The Clean Cooking Energy Campaign In Tanzania

In an effort to support the government’s initiatives strategy of ensuring that 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034, Taifa Gas has reiterated to continued providing clean-energy education to communities across the country.

At the weekend, the company awarded a motorcycle to Ms. Pilly Zubery, a resident of Msalala District Council, through its Energy Ambassador campaign, which was launched last year.

The Clean Energy Ambassador campaign aims to empower and encourage residents of Msalala to use clean cooking gas while also making them ambassadors of clean energy in their respective communities.

The campaign was launched during celebrations to mark World Environment Day, when residents were provided with training on clean cooking energy. In addition, 20 agents serving as energy ambassadors were provided with 320 gas cylinders by Taifa Gas to support awareness and sensitisation efforts.

Speaking during the ceremony to hand over the motorcycle, Taifa Gas Marketing Manager Oscar Shelukindo said the Energy Ambassador campaign had achieved significant success, with many residents of Msalala abandoning the use of charcoal and firewood, which pose risks to both the environment and human health, and switching to clean cooking gas.

He congratulated Ms. Pilly Zubery for being an effective promoter who, as an agent and ambassador, had managed to provide clean-energy education to more than 50 households and helped them switch from unsafe energy sources to clean and safe cooking energy.

Shelukindo also congratulated other ambassadors who continue to promote the use of clean energy. He thanked Barrick Bulyanhulu Mine for being a key partner in the campaign and urged all residents of Msalala to switch to clean cooking energy, which is affordable and helps protect the environment and users’ health.

For her part, Taifa Gas Lake Zone Marketing Manager Hawa Omary said the response to the use of clean energy in Msalala District Council was continuing to grow, with many residents now using gas compared to the situation before the campaign was launched.

“These results are encouraging and demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring that citizens use energy that is safe and beneficial to their health and the environment,” she said.

Representing Barrick Bulyanhulu Mine at the ceremony, Community Relations Officer Mary Lupamba said Barrick would continue supporting government efforts to protect the environment and working with other stakeholders to promote environmental protection and the use of clean energy.

Meanwhile, the motorcycle winner, Ms. Pilly Zubery, thanked the organisers of the Energy Ambassador campaign, saying that, in addition to promoting clean energy, the initiative had helped improve the livelihoods of women who previously spent considerable time and effort searching for cooking fuel, while also creating economic opportunities through small businesses.

“When I started my business, I did not have enough capital. However, through the training we received from Taifa Gas on the use of clean energy, I was able to visit many households and share the knowledge I had gained, enabling more than 50 households to switch from unsafe energy sources,” she said.

“I am grateful for the motorcycle, which has also been insured. I will use it to make my business operations easier, improve distribution and reach more customers.”

The government launched the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy on May 8, 2024, with the goal of ensuring that 80 percent of citizens use clean cooking energy by 2034, or at least 75 percent by 2030. Taifa Gas continues to play a leading role in supporting the implementation of the strategy by providing education and services across the country.

The national clean cooking energy campaign was launched by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan as part of efforts to ensure that Tanzanians, particularly women, move away from the use of charcoal and firewood for cooking.