Mbeya prisons cut costs, protect the environment via clean energy

Mbeya. Tanzania Prisons Service in Mbeya Region has revealed that its shift to clean energy has led to major cost savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced environmental conservation.

The service further disclosed plans to engage local communities in promoting the transition away from polluting cooking fuels.

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Prisons Commander, Raymond Mwampashe, the Head of Ruanda Prison in Mbeya City, Christopher Fungo, said that since last year (2024) the prison has abandoned the use of firewood, replacing it with coal and gas.

He explained that the prison service is now among the ambassadors promoting the use of clean energy and is actively providing education to nearby communities to move away from dirty energy.

“We are educating the surrounding community on the importance and benefits of using clean energy in every household. For us in the prisons, we stopped using firewood in December last year, and the results have been very positive,” said Fungo.

“Since we started using clean energy, we have managed to save both costs and time in operations. We are now ambassadors of this campaign and are encouraging the surrounding communities to adopt this energy,” he added.

The Assistant Commissioner emphasised that in the past the institution relied on cutting down trees for firewood, but today it is working hard to ensure environmental protection and conservation.

He noted that to achieve its goals, the Mbeya Region Prisons Service has set an annual target of planting trees as part of supporting the government’s environmental conservation efforts.

“We thank and commend the government for its continued support. Recently, we received 250 gas cylinders for staff households, which is part of the strategy to ensure every family abandons firewood,” said the commander.

Mbeya government position

Mbeya District Executive Director, Erica Yegella, speaking on behalf of the Mbeya Regional Commissioner Beno Malisa, said that the region’s current strategy is to ensure every citizen abandons the use of dirty fuels.

Erica stated that clean energy use saves lives and improves health for users, stressing that since Mbeya is an agricultural region, residents must prioritise environmental conservation.

“Clean energy helps us eliminate carbon emissions. Therefore, let us embrace proper use of clean energy. Our region is heavily dependent on agriculture, so we must avoid indiscriminate tree cutting to protect the environment,” she said.

She urged residents in the region to stop using charcoal and firewood since they produce carbon emissions, adding that the government is working to create an enabling environment for everyone to reach this goal.

She further called upon stakeholders promoting clean energy to expand education efforts to communities in both urban and rural areas so that the government’s targets can be achieved.

“We must commend stakeholders who are volunteering in the clean energy campaign by reaching all areas, including villages. The goal is to ensure that all citizens are part of this campaign,” Erica added.

Mbeya District Commissioner Solomon Itunda stated that the government has designed a strategy to supply prison officers with gas stoves, and Ruanda Prison has already received them and are reaping the benefits.

He added that the government continues to encourage and support all prisons in Mbeya to adopt clean energy, a step that will help achieve set goals.

“The use of clean energy is not for an individual alone. Even institutions, whether public or private, with just one member of staff are encouraged to adopt clean energy. This approach will help reduce costs and save time,” said Itunda.

Stakeholders and awareness

Director of the Tanzania Women Empowerment Network (TAWEN), Florence Masunga, said that to support the government’s clean energy initiative, her organisation has been visiting communities in Mbeya, especially rural areas, to provide education. However, she pointed out that affordability and accessibility remain challenges.

She explained that lowering the price of alternative charcoal is possible since producers are improving product quality to make it affordable for ordinary citizens.

Masunga added that through forums, TAWEN expects to engage with alternative charcoal innovators, including the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO), to ensure that prices are reduced and that products reach all communities, including rural areas.

“We are encouraging citizens to abandon dirty fuels for the sake of their health. In rural areas, firewood remains the dominant fuel, so TAWEN has decided to visit these communities to provide education and promote clean energy,” she said.

“Our target is to ensure that by 2034, 80 percent of the population uses clean energy, as promised by the government under the National Clean Cooking Strategy.

We are fully committed to this goal to ensure that citizens improve their economic activities and live better lives,” Masunga added.

She noted that the strategy also aims to ensure that all institutions with more than 120 people adopt clean energy, a move that will promote environmental protection and accelerate community development.

Engineer Collins Mwapwele from STAMICO, producers of coal, said their coal is of high quality and more affordable compared to firewood.

He stated that the coal can meet any household need, burns for a long time, and produces no smoke, making it convenient and safe for users.

“In support of the clean energy campaign, STAMICO is committed to producing coal in large quantities. We encourage citizens to adopt this energy source to reduce the challenges associated with firewood use,” said Mwapwele.

“First of all, the price is cheaper compared to charcoal from wood. It can last more than five hours and produces no smoke. STAMICO is prepared to continue producing quality coal that can reach all citizens, even in rural areas,” he added.

Public demands

Some residents in Mbeya said that to achieve the clean energy goals, the government should introduce laws and penalties against those who continue using firewood for cooking and ban tree cutting.

They also suggested ensuring reliable supply of alternative charcoal in all areas, including villages, and expanding education efforts, noting that without strong commitment, the campaign may fall short.

Magdalena Mwampamba, a resident of Mbalizi, said that there are households with more than ten members still relying on firewood, making it difficult to transition to clean energy without enforcement and education.

“To this day, there are people in rural areas who do not even know what clean energy is. If the government has decided to move us toward this technology, it should not consider it a waste of time or resources to reach and educate us,” she said.

“There are families with more than ten people using firewood. Without laws and restrictions, we may end up talking without acting. Many people grew up using firewood, and change will require guidance,” added Magdalena.

Another resident, Christopher Temu, said that if the government wants citizens to adopt coal and alternative fuels, it must ensure producers and innovators distribute them to all areas at affordable prices.

This story is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. If you have any comments about this story, send us a message via WhatsApp at: 0765 864 917