It has been stated that the use of clean cooking energy has continued to open up many employment opportunities for Tanzanians especially in the production of alternative charcoal and the manufacture of machines to produce the charcoal.
The Director of Clean Cooking Energy from the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Nolasco Mlay said during his visit to the Wazalendo Movement Institute which is engaged in the manufacture of machines to produce alternative charcoal and the production of the charcoal in Mkuranga district in the Coast region.
Mr. Mlay said that many institutions serving people from 100 and above have begun to move to the use of clean cooking energy, which significantly increases the demand for alternative charcoal and thus requires faster production.
“I would like to congratulate you for the good work you are doing in producing alternative charcoal and the charcoal making machines. This is a great opportunity for Tanzanians as the demand is high but it is important to ensure that the charcoal produced is of high quality and durable even when transported over long distances”, said Mr. Mlay
Senior Engineer from the Rural Energy Agency (REA), Mr. Deusdedit Malulu has emphasized the importance of involving the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) in the production of alternative charcoal to ensure that products meet the required standards.
He has encouraged manufacturers to register on the NEST system to access various opportunities and noted that REA has a plan to provide opportunities for citizens in the production of machines with the aim of increasing the availability of equipment to produce alternative charcoal.
And the Executive Director of the Wazalendo Movement Institute, Mr. Saidi Malema said that the institution, in continuing to promote the use of clean cooking energy, has established a clean cooking energy group that is involved in the production of alternative charcoal made from maize husks and dry grass.
He said the institution manufactures charcoal making machines that use electricity and non-electricity and added that the institution has also established a Clean Energy Arts Group, which aims to educate citizens about the use of clean cooking energy through the arts of drama and songs.
He said the Wazalendo Movement Institute has successfully sold its machines to stakeholders in Tabora, Singida and Pwani regions.
He said it has been distributing small machines to villagers in Mkuranga District where electricity has not yet arrived to encourage them to switch to the use of clean cooking energy.
During the visit, Mr. Nolasco Mlay also visited Matima Investment, a company that manufactures gas-fired meat stoves, with the aim of seeing how these stoves help promote the use of clean cooking energy in the country.
