DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko has invited investors from around the world to invest in the energy sector in Tanzania.

Speaking yesterday in New Delhi, India, at a meeting of energy ministers from India, Sudan, Malawi, Rwanda, Nepal, Brazil, and directors from various Indian companies, Dr. Biteko said the government has created an enabling environment to ensure access to clean cooking energy at affordable costs.

In 2022, the government emphasised the use of clean energy and highlighted the dangers of using non-clean energy by initiating the first discussion led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Dr. Biteko outlined various business opportunities in Tanzania’s clean cooking energy sector, such as the construction of infrastructure for production, reception, storage, and distribution of clean cooking energy.

Other opportunities include LPG reception stations, storage equipment, natural gas distribution infrastructure in Mtwara, Lindi, Coast , Dar es Salaam, and neighbouring regions, small-scale LNG distribution, and natural gas cylinders and equipment.

"Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to call on all stakeholders and investors in the energy sector to join us in our ambitious yet achievable goals of ensuring access to electricity and clean cooking energy, increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, and enhancing private sector investment to support energy access," said Dr. Biteko.

He also highlighted the government's efforts to promote clean cooking energy: “Tanzania has completed the development of the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy for 2024-2034, aiming to ensure that 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034.”

Dr. Biteko added, “From learning from other countries' experiences, we found that India has done well, with statistics showing that by 2023, 71.1 percent of the population was using clean cooking energy. This success is attributed to the involvement of the private sector and subsidies for low-income households.”

He also said, "According to statistics, around 2.3 billion people worldwide lack access to clean cooking energy, and 990 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are underserved. This situation causes health problems, environmental degradation, and economic challenges."

Dr. Biteko also mentioned that President Samia is committed to promoting the clean cooking energy agenda beyond Tanzania and Africa. At the COP 28 meeting, she launched the African Women's Clean Cooking Energy Empowerment Program (AWCCSP), aimed at addressing major gender, environmental, health, and economic challenges facing women and girls on the continent.

Continuing on Tanzania's commitment to promoting clean energy use globally, Dr. Biteko noted that in 2024, President Samia participated in the Clean Cooking Energy Summit in France, where she co-chaired and nearly 2.2 billion USD was pledged to support the agenda in Africa.

 Additionally, Tanzania, in partnership with the African Energy Commission (AFREC), hosted a High-Level Clean Cooking Energy Summit at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024 and the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam in February 2025 to outline their commitment to implementing National Energy Agreements.

India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh, pointed out the health impacts of using non-clean energy, saying, "There have been nearly 2 million deaths, with women and children suffering more, as women spend up to 5 hours daily gathering firewood and preparing food."

He highlighted India’s success with clean energy, noting that 330 million people are now connected to clean energy.

“Clean energy is now available to the people, making life easier and operations more efficient. I don't see why we can't do this for every citizen—it's possible,” said   Singh.

The meeting of energy ministers is considered crucial in advancing clean energy use globally, providing an opportunity for ministers to share efforts in promoting clean energy in their respective countries.

Overall, policy issues, cultural practices, advocacy, innovation, distribution infrastructure, and investment are seen as key to the success of clean energy adoption.