Bring affordable clean energy solutions to eradicate pollution, innovators urged

Photo: File

solid waste

 By Sabato Kasika , The Guardian

STAKEHOLDERS in renewable energy have been asked to speed up innovation of affordable solutions to reduce the use of firewood and charcoal and protect forests and people’s health

.

Innocent Luoga, Commissioner of Energy and Renewable Energy in the Ministry of Energy made the call in Dares Salaam yesterday when opening this year’s Renewable Energy Week themed ‘Renewable Energy for Inclusive and Green Economy’. 

Luoga said that 80 percent of Tanzanian households still use firewood and charcoal which contribute to destruction of the environment and also affect human health.

“There is a need to evaluate where we are in implementation of electricity projects and make more efforts in renewable energy because our goal is to ensure that 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean energy by 2034,” he said. 

Luoga said that clean cooking energy elevates the economy, conserves the environment and improves the health of the users.

The commissioner said that the use of firewood has been associated with gender-based violence because women spend a lot of time fetching firewood, their spouses using that as an excuse to abuse them because they return home late.

Mathew Matimbwi, Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA) executive secretary asked the government to consider assisting consumers because most renewable energy imported into the country tends to be costly.

 “As TAREA we are trying to make sure that access to renewable energy becomes less expensive, especially cooking energy,” he said.

He said that the renewable energy exhibition involves solar power, wind, geothermal and stoves along with workshops on various topics about renewable energy.

Matimbwi added that at the exhibition there are development stakeholders, private companies and public and private institutions that provide education and showcase various renewable energy products.