PRISONS SERVICE IMPLEMENTS GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVE ON CLEAN COOKING ENERG

The Tanzania Prisons Service has fully implemented the Government’s directive requiring all institutions feeding more than 100 people to adopt Clean Cooking Energy technologies — a move aimed at protecting users from the harmful effects of traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal.

This was revealed by Assistant Commissioner of Prisons for Simiyu Region, Mr. Simon Kotti, during a visit by experts from the Ministry of Energy’s Clean Cooking Energy Unit. The team toured various prison facilities to inspect the distribution and use of Clean Cooking Energy technologies, including the application of Rafiki Briquettes, and to assess any challenges encountered during implementation.

Mr. Kotti stated that, in compliance with the national directive, prison facilities have shifted to cleaner and safer energy sources as a way of avoiding the negative impacts associated with using unsustainable fuels.
“We, as the Tanzania Prisons Service, continue to prioritize the use of clean energy.

Currently, we are using alternative energy sources such as coal briquettes, which cost around TSh 800,000, a significantly lower expense compared to firewood, whose cost was almost double,” he noted.

He added that the Bariadi District Prison is undertaking a project to construct a biogas system for cooking. The project is in the stage of assembling construction materials and, once completed, will expand the use of clean energy and contribute to the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy.

Meanwhile, Mr. Omari Khalifa, an energy expert from the Ministry of Energy, commended the Prisons Service for its strong commitment to executing the Government’s clean cooking directive. He emphasized the importance of continued adoption of clean energy to safeguard health and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Mr. Khalifa also urged prisons to improve storage facilities for coal briquettes to prevent deterioration and ensure safety.

“I emphasize the need to enhance storage areas for coal briquettes to avoid potential hazards. Proper storage helps maintain the quality and effectiveness of the fuel without any challenges,” he said.

In a related development, the Ministry’s technical team visited Musoma Prison in Mara Region to inspect the clean energy infrastructure and assess how the fuels are managed.