Kibasila becomes first Tanzanian Government School to switch from firewood to electric

Dar es Salaam. Kibasila Primary School, the first government school in Tanzania, has become the first among 50 schools in the country to transition from using firewood to electricity for cooking student meals — marking a key milestone in the national agenda to promote clean cooking energy in institutions.

With an enrolment of 640 pupils, the Dar es Salaam-based school has officially phased out firewood following the installation of a modern electric cooking system. This is part of a pilot programme targeting selected schools across the Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Tabora, and Dodoma regions.

The initiative is being implemented through a partnership between the Government of Tanzania, the World Food Programme (WFP), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and is financially supported by UKAid under the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme.

Speaking during the launch, Kibasila’s headteacher, Halima Rukumbwe, said the adoption of electricity would ease operations and ensure timely meal preparation — a significant improvement from the challenges posed by firewood.

“When it rained, the firewood would become soaked, delaying meals and causing pupils to miss class. At times, the food would either burn or end up smoky,” she explained.

WFP Country Director Ronald Tran Ba Huy emphasised the importance of introducing clean energy solutions in schools, pointing out that Tanzania has over 11 million primary school children — many of whom rely on school meals for nutrition and improved academic performance.

“Globally, around 480 million children benefit from at least one school meal per day. Research shows that school meals increase enrolment, improve attendance, and reduce malnutrition,” he said.

However, he noted that most schools still depend on biomass energy, such as firewood and crop waste, making the education sector the second-largest consumer of such fuels after households.

British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Marriane Young, stated that the launch of the electric cooking system aligns with the country’s National Clean Cooking Strategy, launched in 2024, which aims for 80 percent of Tanzanians to move away from firewood and charcoal by 2034.

“The UK remains committed to supporting Tanzania’s journey towards clean cooking through innovation, investment, and strategic partnerships. We envision every school, hospital, and public institution accessing clean energy for cooking,” she said.

Professor Peter Msofe, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Vice President’s Office (Environment), noted that schools serve as vital platforms for driving behavioural change in energy use.

“These pupils will become ambassadors for clean cooking in their homes. As they grow, they’ll carry these values with them. Our current task is to ensure that this strategy reaches every school in Tanzania,” he said.

The shift comes amid a broader trend of institutions with over 100 occupants adopting natural gas for cooking. This is supported by a growing national distribution network, which has expanded from 102.54 kilometres in 2020/21 to 241.58 kilometres as of April 2025. This has enabled gas connections to 1,514 households, 13 institutions, and 57 factories.

Furthermore, over 15,000 vehicles are currently operating on compressed natural gas (CNG), contributing to reduced national demand for petrol and diesel, and supporting a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.