Protecting Tanzanians From The Adverse Health Effects Of Using Charcoal As Cooking Fuel

The Use Of Charcoal As Cooking Fuel In Tanzania

The use of charcoal as a cooking fuel is extremely widespread and deeply entrenched in Tanzania, particularly in urban areas. Approximately 90% of all Tanzanian households rely on solid biomass (firewood and charcoal) for their daily cooking needs. While firewood is dominant in rural areas, charcoal is the primary energy source for urban households, with usage rates in cities like Dar es Salaam exceeding 60% as a main fuel, and approaching 90% when including those who use it as part of a fuel mix. 

Charcoal is the mainstay of energy for urban households because it is more affordable and easier to transport and store than other fuels, despite government efforts to promote LPG.

The Adverse Health Effects Of Cooking With Charcoal

Cooking with charcoal has significant adverse health effects, primarily due to the emission of harmful pollutants and the formation of carcinogens in food

cooked at high temperatures. The risks are particularly high when cooking in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.

According to the WHO, the deaths of millions of people around the world every year are caused by air pollution and of that number, more than 60% corresponds to pollution in residential environments. This means that at least 4.3 million people die from burning solid fuels with inefficient ventilation and this is the main source of indoor pollution across the globe.

Most of these deaths occur due to heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer precipitated by long-term use of these dirty fuels. Also, a significant number of acute respiratory diseases also occur in children who are exposed to such environments.

An NGO’s Passionate Appeal To Tanzanians Using Charcoal As Cooking Fuel

It was at the backdrop of these grim realities that a foundation recently urged Tanzanians to abandon cooking with charcoal and firewood and adopt clean, alternative energy sources to safeguard their health and protect the environment from rapid climate change impacts.

The call was made in Mpwapwa District by the Executive Director of the Foundation for Disabilities Hope (FDH), Mr Maiko Salali, during an awareness campaign on Rafiki Briquettes, an ecofriendly charcoal alternative produced by the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO).

Mr Salali noted that the continued reliance on traditional cooking fuels such as firewood and charcoal is among the leading causes of environmental degradation, particularly rampant deforestation.

“The use of dirty energy, especially charcoal and firewood, brings serious health, social, economic, and environmental challenges. We are encouraging communities to embrace alternative charcoal solutions like Rafiki Briquettes to conserve the environment and safeguard people’s health,” he said.

He added that Tanzania, together with the global community, has set ambitious strategies to curb the use of polluting cooking fuels in order to protect current and future generations.

Explaining further, Mr Salali said the alternative charcoal not only safeguards the environment and human health but also offers economic opportunities, allowing people to engage in distribution and sales.

“As an organisation supporting persons with disabilities, we have been granted dealership rights by STAMICO to distribute this product. This initiative economically empowers people with disabilities and reduces dependency,” he said.

He further highlighted that ecofriendly charcoal is particularly beneficial for persons with albinism, as deforestation increases exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer.

The widespread deforestation is accelerating climate change and threatening the country’s ecological balance.

Mr Salali emphasised that adopting clean cooking solutions like Rafiki Briquettes is key to protecting forests, improving public health, and promoting sustainable development.

  

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