Oryx Gas boosts clean cooking drive

RUVUMA: ORYX Gas Tanzania has donated 600 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and accompanying equipment to residents of Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region, in a move aimed at promoting the adoption of clean, safe and environmentally friendly cooking energy.

Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr Juma Homera, who is also the Member of Parliament for Namtumbo, thanked the company for the support, urging residents to embrace clean cooking energy and support government efforts to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal.

Dr Homera spoke during the handover ceremony, where he said 215 of the 600 cylinders had been distributed to residents, while the remaining cylinders would be distributed across wards in the district.

Speaking on behalf of Oryx Gas Tanzania Managing Director Iman Mtafya, the company’s Finance Manager, Mr Ashery Mbasha, said the initiative complemented government efforts to promote clean cooking and address the environmental challenges associated with the use of firewood and charcoal.

He said extensive reliance on traditional cooking fuels contributed to deforestation and environmental degradation, warning that failure to take decisive measures could leave future generations facing shortages of forest resources and increased impacts of climate change.

“Without decisive measures, future generations could face severe shortages of forest resources and increased impacts of climate change,” Mr Mbasha said.

He said Oryx Gas was contributing to efforts to address the challenge by promoting LPG as an alternative source of cooking energy.

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According to Mr Mbasha, wider use of LPG would help reduce deforestation, improve household health by cutting exposure to cooking smoke, save time and improve living standards.

He said Namtumbo was among areas prioritised by the company as part of its efforts to support the transition to clean cooking energy.

Mr Mbasha said the company had also supported other clean energy initiatives in the district, including installation of an LPG storage and distribution system at Samia Suluhu Girls’ Secondary School, enabling the institution to use clean energy for students and staff.

He urged beneficiaries to use the cylinders safely and share knowledge on proper LPG use with other community members.

Meanwhile, Mama Lishe Anifa Mahela welcomed the initiative, calling on the government and other stakeholders to provide subsidised LPG cylinders and cooking stoves to small-scale entrepreneurs facing capital constraints.

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