Samia honoured for promoting clean cooking energy as International Day of Clean Energy marked
The National Assembly Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson, holds the award jointly presented to President Samia Suluhu Hassan by female MPs and Oryx Gas Tanzania Company in recognition of her contribution to promoting clean cooking energy in Tanzania and Africa. Others in the picture are female lawmakers, ministers, and the representatives of Oryx Gas Company. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The award presented to President Hassan reads, “Oryx Energies Company presents this award to H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, in recognition of her outstanding leadership in promoting and championing the use of clean cooking energy in Tanzania and Africa."
Dodoma. Female Members of Parliament, in collaboration with Oryx Gas Tanzania Company, have honoured President Samia Suluhu Hassan with an award for her contribution to promoting the use of clean cooking energy in the country and beyond.
President Hassan was honoured in Dodoma Friday on June 7, 2024, during the marking of the International Day of Clean Energy, whereby the MPs and the gas firm comprehensively deliberated about the Head of State’s contribution to promoting clean cooking energy in Africa, especially in Tanzania.
Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of the President, National Assembly Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson, who graced the event, said President Hassan deserves the award due to her distinguishing role in championing clean cooking energy, leading to national, regional, and global recognition.
Dr Ackson said during the COP28 held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the recent meeting in Paris, President Hassan has been globally recognised as the champion of clean cooking energy.
She said 80 percent of the population in Africa was using dirty cooking energy, adding that transitioning away from the menace required huge investment and time.
"However, President Hassan is helping to reduce transition time by seeking opportunities to change cooking methods from dirty to clean energy. Her efforts have begun domestically, where current statistics show that 90 percent of Tanzanians still use unclean cooking energy,” said Dr Ackson.
"The President’s ongoing efforts aim at moving the country closer to reducing the percentage to 25 percent, whereby only fewer people will be using dirty cooking energy," she said.
Regarding the harmful effects of unclean energy on humans, Dr Ackson, who doubles as the Mbeya Urban MP, said approximately 33,000 deaths occur in Tanzania annually due to the persistent use of unsuitable energy.
She said deaths cause a loss of productive working force and that women and girls, in particular, spend a lot of time searching for firewood and charcoal instead of engaging in development activities.
"We commend President Hassan for the steps she is taking to empower women, who are usually the ones in charge of cooking and, therefore, are bearing the brunt of its adverse effects. Her efforts will also ensure that women progress in development," she said.
Further, she said over 500,000 hectares of forests are destroyed annually in search of firewood and charcoal, noting that through her collaboration with stakeholders, including Oryx Gas Tanzania, measures to avert the trend are gaining momentum in the country.
Oryx Gas Tanzania Managing Director Benoit Araman (with the microphone) reads the message inscribed on the award presented to President Samia Suluhu Hassan by the company, acknowledging her contribution to clean cooking energy initiatives. The award was received by Speaker of Parliament, Dr Tulia Ackson on behalf of the President. The Head of State was awarded during the International Day of Clean Energy celebrations held in the country’s capital, Dodoma. PHOTO | COURTESY
According to Dr Ackson, the President has also instructed sustainable measures in the area, leading to the formulation of a 10-year national clean cooking energy strategy (2024-2034).
She also said that the government was considering the possibility of reducing the price of cooking energy to increase affordability alongside the provision of subsidies and reducing taxes on cooking gas equipment.
For his part, the Managing Director of Oryx Gas Tanzania, Mr Benoit Araman, said the award was part of the recognition of the great contribution made by President Hassan to promoting the use of clean energy locally, regionally, and globally.
The award presented to President Hassan reads, “Oryx Energies Company presents this award to H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, in recognition of her outstanding leadership in promoting and championing the use of clean cooking energy in Tanzania and Africa."
However, Mr Araman reiterated the company's commitment to scale up the initiative, noting that already it has distributed 35,000 gas cylinders with stoves to various groups in the country.
“We will continue supporting this initiative as our strategy is to ensure the government’s target to use clean cooking energy by 80 percent in 2032 is realised as directed by President Hassan,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the female MPs, Ms Shally Raymond, said the female lawmakers, together with energy champion legislators, decided to award President Hassan to applaud efforts made by her government in promoting clean cooking energy, therefore providing huge relief to women and girls in the country.
