Tanzania Offers Subsidised Gas Kits for TZS 17,500

Tanzania’s Rural Energy Agency (REA) is expanding access to clean cooking energy by offering subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, complete with gas and accessories, for just TZS 17,500 to residents of Tanga Region.

The initiative aims to reduce the initial cost of acquiring gas cooking equipment and encourage more households to transition from firewood and charcoal to cleaner cooking alternatives.

Speaking during the National World Food Day celebrations at Usagara Secondary School grounds in Tanga, REA Engineer David Malima said the subsidy programme was designed to make clean cooking solutions more affordable and accessible to a wider section of the population.

He explained that beneficiaries receive a complete gas cylinder package with the necessary accessories at a reduced price, as part of the government’s broader efforts to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking energy across the country.

The initiative has received a positive response from women in Tanga, many of whom have welcomed the opportunity to reduce their dependence on traditional cooking fuels.

Aziza Ramadhani, a Tanga resident who benefited from the subsidy, praised REA for making gas cylinders more affordable, saying the programme would help women move away from firewood and charcoal.

She encouraged other women to take advantage of the initiative and thanked the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan for supporting access to cleaner cooking technologies.

Another beneficiary, Ralma Likate, said using gas had made household cooking easier by reducing preparation time and allowing her to devote more time to other economic and development activities.

She noted that cooking with gas was faster than using firewood, while also eliminating the daily inconvenience of searching for and collecting fuel.

Meanwhile, Tanga resident Fatuma Hatibu commended REA for extending the subsidy programme to local communities. She said clean cooking energy could help reduce exposure to smoke from firewood and charcoal while contributing to environmental conservation.

Hatibu urged more households to embrace cleaner cooking alternatives, highlighting the potential benefits for public health, household efficiency and the protection of natural resources.

Exposure to smoke from traditional cooking fuels can contribute to respiratory illnesses, particularly among women and children who spend considerable time near cooking areas. Reducing reliance on firewood can also help limit pressure on forests, although the overall environmental benefits depend on the fuel source and how it is produced.

The subsidy programme forms part of Tanzania’s broader efforts to expand access to clean cooking solutions, with affordability remaining a major consideration for households seeking to switch from traditional fuels.

REA is using the National World Food Day celebrations, taking place in Tanga from October 10 to 16, 2026, to educate the public about clean cooking energy and provide information on available opportunities.

The agency has invited visitors to its exhibition pavilion to learn more about clean cooking technologies and the support available to households.

Through the initiative, the government seeks to make cleaner cooking more accessible while improving household welfare, protecting public health and supporting environmental sustainability.