GOVERNMENT SCRRAPS VAT ON LPG CYLINDER IMPORTS TO BOOST ACCESS TO CLEAN COOKING ENERGY – MINISTER NDEJEMBI




The Minister for Energy, Hon. Deogratius Ndejembi, has announced that the government has removed Value Added Tax (VAT) on the importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders, bulk LPG storage facilities, and carbonizers used for producing alternative charcoal. The move is part of broader efforts to reduce costs and improve access to clean cooking energy for citizens.

Hon. Ndejembi made the remarks on March 17, 2026, in Morogoro District, Morogoro Region, while officiating the Clean Cooking Energy Conference organized by the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Uongozi Institute. The conference brought together stakeholders from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, including government institutions, financial organizations, civil society groups, and producers, distributors, and users of clean cooking energy.

He emphasized that President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has prioritized ensuring access to clean cooking energy through increased availability of LPG cylinders, improved cookstoves, biogas, and expanded electricity distribution to grassroots levels to support electric cooking.

“So far, TANESCO, through the MECS program, has enabled 480 customers to acquire electric cooking appliances through installment payments via electricity bills,” said Hon. Ndejembi.

He further noted that the government’s target of achieving 80% adoption of clean cooking energy by 2034 and 75% by 2030 is attainable through strong stakeholder collaboration. He highlighted significant progress, noting that usage has increased from just 6% in 2024, when the National Clean Cooking Strategy was launched, to 23.2% currently.

The Minister also urged stakeholders to intensify public awareness campaigns to change negative perceptions about clean cooking energy and encourage its adoption. He called for increased innovation and expansion of distribution infrastructure, noting that firewood and charcoal still account for over 50% of cooking energy used in many households.

He stressed that the conference should serve as a platform to strengthen collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society to expand access to clean cooking solutions, which are crucial for health, environmental sustainability, economic growth, and gender equality.

On his part, the Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Adam Malima, stated that the clean cooking energy agenda is vital for sustainable development. He commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for making it a national priority and urged citizens to support the initiative.

He also advised the Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with other stakeholders including financial institutions, to empower entrepreneurs in Morogoro to utilize rice husks—abundantly available in the region—to produce alternative charcoal.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Permanent Secretary for Electricity and Renewable Energy in the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Nolasco Mlay, said the conference provides a unique opportunity for stakeholders from public and private sectors, civil society, and international development partners to collaborate, share experiences, and discuss strategies to advance the clean cooking agenda in Tanzania.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the Uongozi Institute, Mr. Kadari Singo, stated that the conference aims to raise awareness of the health, environmental, and economic benefits of clean cooking energy, while also promoting partnerships among the government, private sector, and civil society.

He added that the conference also seeks to identify challenges, solutions, and opportunities in the adoption of clean cooking energy.

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