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.
