CLEAN ENERGY FROM RAFIKI BRIQUETTES SHOULD REACH ALL TANZANIANS – AMBASSADOR KINGU

Tanzanians have been urged to continue supporting the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, in the use of clean cooking energy specifically Rafiki Briquettes, an alternative to charcoal produced by the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO).

The call was made today, January 24, 2026, by the Chairperson of the Rural Energy Board (REB), retired Major General Ambassador Jacob Kingu, during a visit to the Rafiki Briquettes clean energy factory owned by STAMICO in Kisarawe District, Coast Region. He was accompanied by REB Board Members and the management of the Rural Energy Agency (REA).

Ambassador Kingu urged STAMICO to accelerate the production of Rafiki Briquettes to ensure that all Tanzanians across the country can access and use clean and safe cooking energy.

“This clean energy agenda, championed by the Sixth Phase President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, aims to liberate women from the use of unsafe and unclean energy sources. We are promoting and implementing the vision of our national leader,” said Ambassador Kingu.

He added that the collaboration between REA and STAMICO in implementing clean cooking energy projects is aimed at reaching 80 percent adoption by the year 2034, in line with the 2024–2034 Strategy.

Meanwhile, the Director General of REA, Eng. Hassan Saidy, stated that the Agency continues to work with various stakeholders to ensure the Clean Cooking Energy Strategy achieves its set goals, including increasing the availability and distribution of alternative charcoal.

REB Board Member, Sophia Mgonja, commended STAMICO for the quality production of alternative charcoal at the Rafiki Briquettes clean energy factory and called on various stakeholders to use the clean energy produced there in order to make the clean energy agenda sustainable and accessible to more Tanzanians.

On his part, the Acting Managing Director of STAMICO, Eng. Baraka Manyama, said that the Rafiki Briquettes project has significantly contributed to environmental conservation by preventing environmental disasters, while also creating substantial employment opportunities for various groups, including women, youth, and other stakeholders.

The Government, through the Rural Energy Agency (REA) and the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO), has signed a contract to construct a new factory for the production of alternative energy (Rafiki Briquettes) in Geita Region. The project is valued at TZS 4.5 billion, and construction is currently underway.