Biteko urges citizens to commit to promoting clean energy
Dar es Salaam. The Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister, Dr Dotto Biteko, has said it is the responsibility of all Tanzanians to promote the use of clean energy in the country.
He has also urged companies dealing with the manufacturing and distribution of cooking gas cylinders to fully participate in advancing the campaign.
He said President Samia Suluhu Hassan had initiated the campaign after launching the Clean Cooking Energy Programme for Africa, which has garnered support from various quarters.
Dr Biteko made the remarks Thursday on March 7, 2024 at Mbagala in Dar es Salaam, during the handover of gas cylinders and stoves to 100 food vendors as part of supporting the country’s efforts to promote clean cooking energy.
"After launching the clean energy programme at the global conference last year, President Hassan will this year attend the 29th conference in which she is expected to heighten the advocacy and continue to promote clean cooking energy," he said during the event where 700 gas cylinders were handed over.
"For us, it is essential to develop a special strategy to encourage Tanzanian women to use clean cooking energy. We know that cooking is primarily done by women in our families,” added Mr Biteko.
Further, he revealed that the first person to suffer the consequences of dirty energy was usually a woman, especially through health problems.
According to him, in quest of dirty energy such as firewood and charcoal, the women are forced to travel long distances, facing various challenges, including the risk of rape and sometimes attacks by wild animals, snakes, and insects.
He emphasized the need to elevate the status of Tanzanian women, not just by pronouncing it verbally, but by creating easy and affordable access to clean energy, which will help to boost the economies of individual citizens and the community as a whole.
"I would like to thank Oryx Gas Tanzania Ltd for joining us in providing gas cylinders to food vendors because this signifies that the journey towards clean energy in Tanzania has begun, and it starts here at Mbagala before spreading to other places where the women will be provided with clean energy," insisted Dr Biteko.
He urged government leaders and institutions to understand that the clean energy agenda is not solely the government's responsibility but it is a collective agenda to ensure Tanzanian women receive their deserved status.
"We do hope that the distributed gas cylinders will catalyze and promote clean cooking energy among Tanzanians. Therefore, I urge other gas cylinder manufacturers and distributors to join the race and do everything possible to ensure Tanzanian women have access to clean energy and achieve the intended goals," he insisted.
For his part, the Oryx Gas Tanzania Limited director, Mr Benoite Araman, said his company was proud to be recognized as a leading company in supplying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Tanzanians, promising to continue investing and coordinating the transition and dissemination of clean energy for the benefit of all Tanzanians.
"I urge everyone here to transit to LPG in your domestic activities and bring development to our country as well as improve livelihood. We are pleased to hand over 700 gas cylinders to the residents of Mbagala Zakheim,” he said.
He also emphasized that the transition to cooking gas would help protect the environment and reduce deforestation, and above all, protect women's health by avoiding inhaling smoke and steam that affects their lungs and health caused by firewood and charcoal.
"Women spend less time cooking using gas, so they have time to engage in other development activities and avoid quarrels with their partners when meals are delayed. Children are also allowed to have more time to engage in their studies instead of collecting firewood," said Mr Araman.
