By A Special Correspondent
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), through its European Union (EU)-funded CookFund Programme, has stepped up support for Tanzania’s clean cooking transition by equipping the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) with an advanced emission analyser.
The equipment, handed over late last month in Dar es Salaam, is expected to transform the testing and certification of clean cooking appliances – both imported and locally manufactured – by improving accuracy and cutting testing costs.
Officiating the handover, Dr. James Mataragio, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, described the facility as a game-changer in Tanzania’s clean energy journey.
“This marks a major milestone in advancing clean cooking in Tanzania,” he said. “With this facility, TBS can now certify appliances more efficiently, lower testing costs, and empower local innovators to scale up.”
Dr. Mataragio also commended President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and the EU for their leadership in promoting clean energy and healthier kitchens across the country.
Tanzania aims to ensure 80 percent of households adopt clean cooking solutions by 2034, as part of its national strategy to safeguard public health, reduce deforestation, and curb carbon emissions.
Speaking at the event, Marc Stalsmans, the EU’s Head of Cooperation, praised Tanzania’s commitment to sustainable energy.
“We are proud to partner with Tanzania in advancing clean energy solutions,” he said. “This analyser will not only lower testing costs for innovators and manufacturers but also accelerate the standardisation of cleaner, safer cooking technologies for all Tanzanians.”
Implemented by UNCDF on behalf of the Ministry of Energy, the CookFund Programme has so far:
- Provided results-based grants to 78 enterprises,
- Supported 41 public institutions in adopting clean cooking solutions,
- Benefited more than 1.7 million people, and
- Created over 11,600 jobs nationwide.
UNCDF Representative Shigeki Komatsubara noted that the analyser will enhance Tanzania’s ability to monitor and measure the real environmental and health impacts of clean cooking technologies.
Meanwhile, TBS Director General Dr. Ashura Katunzi said the new equipment will strengthen the bureau’s capacity to ensure product quality and compliance.
“This is a major step toward standardising clean cooking appliances in Tanzania,” she said. “We also hope to extend this initiative to our Mbeya and Mwanza offices to reinforce national testing capacity.” The handover underscores the EU and UNCDF’s shared commitment to promoting sustainable energy, innovation, and inclusive economic growth in Tanzania.
