HOW NATURAL GAS REDUCES COOKING COSTS, SAVE FORESTS

Madimba natural gas processing plant in Mtwara.

BY HAIKA KIMARO, MTWARA

www.mtwarapressclub.co.tz

Type of cooking fuel and how you use it is one among major factors which contribute to climate change. In countries like Tanzania where firewood and charcoal are the main cooking fuel the situation is getting worse as forests are decimated in order to meet growing demand of firewood and charcoal.

Available data shows that human activities account for destruction of about 400,000 hectares of forests each year in the country. In the last five years Africa has lost 3.9 million hectares of forests while in the world some 7 million hectares have been destroyed in that period.

A resident of Naliendele in Mtwara District, Mtwara Region, Amina Hassan, says to her and many other people in her village cost of living is also made high as they are supposed to spend between Sh2,000 and 3,000 daily for firewood or charcoal.

“In order for me to make food for my family of seven I need to spend not less than Sh3,000 every day. If I don’t have this money, I am forced to stop all other activities so as to fetch firewood,” she says.

This challenge was also noted by the government which, as a solution, tasked Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to come up with a project to connect households with natural gas so as to give Tanzanians clean, safe and affordable cooking fuel.

It is also anticipated that this project will tremendously reduce rate of forest destruction.

And in implementation, TPDC has already connected more than 1,500 households to the natural gas in Dar es Salaam, Lindi and Mtwara Regions.

Head of Petroleum and Gas at TPDC, Engineer Eva Swila told Habitat News that implementation of the project started in 2019 and up to now more than 1,500 households and institutions have been connected.

“We have connected institutions which carter for many people like schools, prisons, colleges and hotels.

Engineer Eva notes that the aim of the project is to enable Tanzanians to enjoy the affordable cooking fuel and reduce dependence on forests for firewood and charcoal. She notes that on costs a family which uses natural gas for cooking saves up to 40 percent of costs of buying other kinds of cooking fuel.

“One unit of natural gas is sold at Sh1,000 and it is enough to save a family of six people for one day on their cooking fuel needs,” says Ms Eva.

She points out that in its initial stages the project is being implemented in Mtwara, Lindi and Dar es Salaam but in 2023/24 financial year TPDC plans to expand it to connect at least 1,000 household in Coast and Lindi regions and some Sh6 billion have been set aside or that purpose.

“We have connected several factories in Coast Region, we will embark on connecting households this year where 500 households have been identified already and in Lindi we will connect similar number of households,” she elaborates.

Mwanaid Ally is among beneficiaries of natural gas project and she testifies that it has helped her family to reduce costs of cooking fuel. She also says the natural gas is reliable and accessible around the year.

“When I was using charcoal, during rainy season the costs of the product was going high as much as twice but natural gas costs remain constant. I also don’t need more time in preparation of the gas cooker as opposed to charcoal stove especially during wet seasons,” she says.

Another beneficiary, Bryson Mshana, a resident of Railway in Mtwara Municipal, says he was not charged when natural gas was connected to his household and now he uses little money to buy gas as opposed to what he was spending when using LPG.

“Natural gas saves money and time. Earlier, I was parting with at least Sh20,000 to purchase a small gas (LPG) cylinder. But now I can cook my food even if I have only Sh1,000,” he says.

In addition to households, the service has also been connected to institutions which houses many people such as Mtwara Technical College.

The college deputy principle, Babis Bwire, says before they were connected to natural gas they were spending between Sh6 and 7 million per month but after being connected the cost of cooking fuel has come down to between Sh1.5 million and Sh1.7 million.

“That aside, when we were using firewood sometimes students had to wait for food as it took long time to prepare it. That means student can no longer miss their studies because of cooking delays,” he says.

Tutors at the college have also been connected to natura gas pipeline and they now spend an average of Sh30,000 a month for cooking down from an average of Sh90,000 per month.

Other institutions which have been connected include Mtwara Teachers College, Lilungu Prisons and Dangote factory also in Mtwara. University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Serena Hotel and Keko prison are some of institutions which have been connected in Dar es Salaam.

Somoe Mustafa, a mother in a family of five still uses firewood for cooking and she notes that it takes longer prepare food using firewood.

“I must set time to go to the bush to look for firewood. The firewood also produces a lot of smoke which is not good for our health,” she notes.

Asked if she is aware that natural gas is now used as cooking fuel, Somoe says she has heard about that through media but she was not aware if such a project has been initiated.

“I knew about gas cylinders but now I am told that even the natural gas can be used as a substitute for firewood. I have heard that people who have been connected use it like water, you just turn the tape and you cook but I don’t think that I can use that because I don’t have a gas cooker,” she says.

Engineer Eva says there are no costs for those who are connected.

“Currently TPDC pick houses to be connected in areas where the pipeline passes and the beneficiaries do not pay any connection fees. What is required is that the house should have a designated room used as a kitchen which allows piping,” she says.