Tanzania to Lower Cooking Gas Prices for Households

Tanzania is taking bold steps to make cooking gas more affordable for households across the country, with a focus on improving access to cleaner, safer cooking solutions.

In a bid to reduce the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the government is rolling out a subsidy program that has already helped bring down the price of gas cylinders.

The initiative, part of the government’s broader National Strategy for Clean Cooking Energy (2024-2034), aims to transition 80% of Tanzanian households to clean cooking energy by 2034, up from just 10% today. To achieve this, the government is working closely with the private sector and local distributors to ensure gas cylinders are available at lower prices, especially in rural areas.

In the 2023/24 fiscal year alone, the government provided subsidies for 104,000 gas cylinders, and for the 2024/25 year, it plans to subsidize an additional 450,000 cylinders. This effort aims to boost the number of gas distributors and retailers in rural regions, ensuring that even the most remote communities can access the clean energy they need.

A key part of this initiative is the distribution of subsidized LPG cookers. The government has launched a project in the Mtwara Region, where 6kg gas cookers will be sold to rural residents at half the price. A total of 16,275 cookers and their accompanying equipment will be distributed across five districts, allowing people in these areas to purchase them for just 19,500 Tanzanian shillings, with the government covering the rest of the cost.

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The move is expected to address several important issues. By reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels like firewood and charcoal, it will help to alleviate the health risks associated with indoor air pollution, which disproportionately affect women and children. The government hopes this initiative will also combat deforestation, reduce carbon emissions, and protect the environment, as the use of wood and charcoal has contributed significantly to environmental degradation.

This initiative is part of Tanzania’s larger goal to encourage cleaner cooking practices, which are better for both public health and the planet. The government has committed to investing around 4.6 trillion Tanzanian shillings (approximately $1.8 billion) into the program over the next decade, with funding from a combination of public resources, private sector investments, and international partnerships.