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How Morogoro school slashed energy costs by 67 percent

Cook Mariam Mgonde prepares meals at Morogoro Secondary School using charcoal briquettes that do not come from trees. PHOTO | HAMIDA SHARIFF

By  Hamida Shariff

What you need to know:

  • The school, established in 1954 and with 615 boarding students, previously relied on firewood and charcoal, which produced smoke that harmed the health of cooks and contributed to environmental pollution.

Morogoro. Morogoro Secondary School has reduced its monthly cooking energy costs by over 67 percent since switching from firewood and charcoal to gas in November 2024.

The school, established in 1954 and with 615 boarding students, previously relied on firewood and charcoal, which produced smoke that harmed the health of cooks and contributed to environmental pollution.

Through a clean cooking energy project funded by the Ministry of Energy via the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), the school adopted gas stoves along with eco-friendly “cool charcoal” that is not sourced from trees.

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The initiative aims to reduce environmental pollution while safeguarding the health of cooks. The project was officially launched by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Doto Biteko.

The school’s Deputy Headmaster, Mr Steven Mworia, said the Sh40 million project installed six gas stoves and a gas cylinder with a three-month capacity.

“Previously, we spent Sh9 million on firewood for three months. Now, gas costs us Sh3 million for the same period. We have saved both money and preparation time,” he said, emphasizing that the project’s success should encourage other institutions to move away from firewood and charcoal.

Mr. Mworia added that EWURA provided training on safe gas usage and hazard recognition before implementation, and no accidents have occurred.

Ms Mariam Mgonde, a school cook, explained that the new system has reduced fatigue and respiratory and eye problems.

“Before, when the firewood was green, I struggled with smoke that hurt my eyes. Now I cook faster, in a clean and safe environment. Pots do not get dirty with soot, and I can cook any type of food,” she said.

Everina Stephano, a Form Six student, said students now receive meals on time.

“Previously, we were late to classes waiting for meals, and sometimes we started lessons without breakfast. Now, food is cooked properly without smoke, and the gas cylinder is fenced for safety,” she said.


Institutions shifting to clean energy

Deputy President Dr Philip Mpango stated that by March 2025, a total of 762 institutions nationwide had adopted clean cooking energy to prevent environmental, health, social, and economic harm. Of these, 495 are public institutions and 267 are private.

Dr Mpango praised institutions that have implemented the ban on unsafe energy and urged those that have not yet transitioned to invest in clean cooking energy solutions.

This stories are sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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