By Charles Barnabas (Prime Expertise Ltd.), Anna Clements (Gamos Ltd.) and Jane Spencer (Loughborough University).
For years, TANESCO has been at the heart of powering Tanzania’s homes, businesses, and industries – ensuring the nation’s growing demand for electricity is met efficiently and reliably. Yet, for many within TANESCO itself, that same electricity is not being used for one of the most fundamental daily activities: cooking. It is a paradox that speaks to the broader challenge of transitioning households to eCooking. While TANESCO’s staff work to expand access to electricity across the country, many of them still rely on charcoal, firewood, or gas at home. The reasons are many, but two key ones are a lack of awareness and the high upfront cost of eCooking appliances.
Recognising this gap, TANESCO has been promoting eCooking and we at MECS have been delighted to collaborate on this through the Tanzania eCooking Scale and Support Programme, supported by UK International Development. As part of their ongoing commitment to promote eCooking, TANESCO launched the “Pika kwa Umeme” (“Cook with Electricity”) initiative on 4th March 2025, aimed at providing its staff with awareness and capacity-building sessions on the benefits and practicality of eCooking. The initiative carries the slogan “Umeme, Nishati Nafuu Zaidi Jikoni”, meaning “Electricity, the most affordable energy in the kitchen”. Launched just ahead of International Women’s Day during the TANESCO Women’s Conference to Promote eCooking, the initiative recognises the central role that women play in advancing the clean cooking transition – both at home and within their professional spheres.
Since then, TANESCO has been carrying out demonstrations, discussions, and peer engagement to ensure that all 6,000 TANESCO employees across the country are informed, inspired, and equipped to become true eCooking champions in their own communities.
While the Pika kwa Umeme initiative successfully laid the foundation for awareness and behaviour change within TANESCO, the upfront cost of the appliances has continued to be a barrier. Many staff members, though convinced of the benefits of eCooking, still could not afford the appliances themselves, or were put off by the high upfront cost. Recognising this, on 14th August 2024, TANESCO officially launched its eCooking Appliance Lending Programme for Staff. This initiative is designed to enable TANESCO staff to purchase eCooking appliances through a flexible, affordable financing model that allows repayment in small installments via salary deductions on their pay checks. Watch more in the launch video here:
Beyond convenience, the initiative carries a powerful message. It represents TANESCO’s commitment to lead by example – ensuring that those who produce and distribute electricity also embrace its benefits in their own homes. Staff members who experience the advantages of eCooking firsthand are better positioned to advocate for it confidently within their communities, helping to dispel myths and share practical insights about its safety, efficiency, and cost savings.
This effort aligns with the broader goals of MECS and Tanzania’s national clean cooking agenda – demonstrating that affordability challenges can be tackled through innovative financing, institutional leadership, and grassroots awareness. As more TANESCO staff begin using eCooking appliances, their stories and experiences will play an invaluable role in shaping public perception. When communities see their local utility workers cooking with electricity – and saving time and money – the message becomes far more relatable and convincing.
The Guest of Honour at the TANESCO launch, Hon. Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, during his speech at the launch, directed all institutions under the Ministry to replicate TANESCO’s model – a directive that is now being actively implemented. On 22nd August 2025, the Rural Energy Agency (REA) followed TANESCO’s lead by distributing 220 eCooking appliances (double-plate induction hobs) to its staff under a similar loan scheme that enables repayment through manageable instalments. This momentum continued when, on 19th September 2025, the Ministry of Energy launched its own eCooking initiative, providing appliances and hands-on training sessions for staff on the use of induction hobs.
We hope TANESCO’s innovative scheme to enable their staff to purchase eCooking appliances will continue to inspire others to try the same, both within Tanzania and across borders!
Featured photo credit: TANESCO.
No AI was used in the production of this blog.
