African leaders have pledged to accelerate clean cooking initiatives to combat the devastating effects of open-fire cooking, which kills approximately 600,000 women and children annually.
108scoop.com reports that the leaders made the decision at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, held in Tanzania from January 27 to January 28, 2025.
During the summit, 12 African countries signed energy compacts, committing to expanding access to clean cooking solutions and electricity, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan, a leading advocate for clean energy, commended these commitments, stating that other nations would follow suit.
Organised by the Government of Tanzania and Mission 300, in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group, World Bank, and global partners, the summit aimed to address Africa’s electricity and clean cooking access gap through technological innovation and financing solutions.
Rashid Abdallah, Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC), who spoke at the event, highlighted that while 600 million Africans lack electricity, nearly 1 billion people still rely on biomass fuels like wood and charcoal, leading to significant economic, social, and environmental consequences, costing the continent an estimated $790 billion annually.
Innovative Solutions for Clean Cooking: Experts at the summit, including Dr. Richard Muyungi (Special Envoy to the Tanzanian President), Peter Scott (CEO of Burn Manufacturing), and Martin Kimani (CEO of M-Gas), showcased pioneering approaches to clean cooking.
Tanzania’s National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034) aims to transition 80% of the population to clean cooking technologies by 2034.
Burn Manufacturing is producing fuel-efficient biomass stoves and electric cooking appliances with pay-as-you-go financing models.
M-Gas has introduced a smart metered LPG model, allowing households to cook with as little as 35 cents per day, removing the financial barrier to clean energy adoption.
Tanzania’s Leadership & Global Efforts: Tanzania has positioned itself as a leader in clean cooking efforts, responding to 3,000 annual deaths and 400 hectares of deforestation caused by firewood and charcoal use. President Hassan’s commitment has elevated clean cooking to a national and continental priority.
During the summit, winners of a national clean cooking innovation challenge were recognized for groundbreaking solutions like biogas production plants and a click gas LPG delivery system.
The African Development Bank announced a $2 billion commitment over the next 10 years to support clean cooking solutions, contributing to the $4 billion annually needed to ensure universal access to clean cooking by 2030.
“Why should anyone die just for cooking a meal?” questioned African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, stressing that Africa must develop with dignity and access to clean energy solutions.
