KEY POINTS
- Tanzania launched EV charging stations in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma and Mwanza cities.
- UNDP is supporting Tanzania’s goal of 80 percent clean cooking energy usage by 2034.
- Clean cookstove distributors say taxes at 32 percent of final cost are blocking low-income access.
Tanzania is moving. Not slowly, not tentatively, but with a deliberate push toward cleaner energy across both transport and the kitchen.
The government launched its electric vehicle charging station initiative in Dodoma this week, rolling out infrastructure across four major urban centers: Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma and Mwanza. The launch came alongside the introduction of the On-Bill Financing scheme for customers of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company, known as TANESCO, giving households a new pathway to access clean energy appliances without large upfront costs.
Minister for Energy Deogratius Ndejembi said the initiative targets both transport and cooking sectors. The goal, he said, is to improve access to clean, affordable and efficient energy while raising the quality of life for citizens and utility customers alike.
UNDP backs Tanzania’s 80 percent clean cooking target
The United Nations Development Programme is firmly behind the push. UNDP Representative in Tanzania Shigeki Komatsubara praised the country’s momentum at the launch event and said Tanzania is steadily expanding its EV charging footprint with a nationwide rollout still ahead.
“Today’s launch clearly shows Tanzania’s commitment to transitioning away from environmentally harmful energy sources,” Komatsubara said. “UNDP supports these efforts, with the goal of ensuring every household gains access to clean and sustainable energy.”
He confirmed that UNDP will continue working with Tanzania to reach an 80 percent clean cooking energy usage target by 2034. The roadmap includes improvements in rural electrification and broader adoption of natural gas where infrastructure already exists.
The tax barrier blocking low-income households
Not everyone at the launch was celebrating without conditions. Atukuzwe Wilson, director of Positive Cooker and speaking on behalf of clean cookstove distributors, called on the government to take a hard look at the tax burden on clean cooking appliances.
He said taxes currently account for about 32 percent of the final cost of these appliances. That figure, he argued, is squeezing out the households who need clean energy the most.
“We support government efforts to expand clean energy use, but tax review is necessary,” Wilson said. “If the burden is reduced, more citizens will be able to afford these stoves.”
The message was clear. Tanzania’s clean energy transition is gaining real momentum. But affordability remains the variable that will determine how many people the transition actually reaches.
