NEWS

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) fight to end the inefficient use of biomass has seen some impressive strides since its launch in 2020.

The move by UNIDO to battle the use of inefficient biomass has seen over 10,000 bioethanol cook stoves assembled in Tanzania and sold to Dar es Salaam based households.

UNIDO Deputy Representative, Gerald Runyoro said in Dar es Salaam recently that the five-year project aims to reduce the use of inefficient biomass, mainly charcoal and wood, which degrade the environment and aggravate climate change and its effects.

“UNIDO wishes to clarify that this project has started with a good foot supplying over ten thousand stoves. This is not a small achievement considering that it needed a lot of awareness-raising interventions because it is a new product in the country,” he said.

He said the project promoting the use of bioethanol for cooking, initially targeting to distribute 500,000 stoves in Dar es Salaam region has been a great milestone.

The project is facilitated by UNIDO in cooperation with the Vice President’s Office and the Ministry of Energy to promote green energy against the use of firewood and charcoal which exacerbate deforestation.

He added that the intervention is receiving increasing political support and the private sector is demonstrating interest to invest in bioethanol production, assembling and later manufacturing the bioethanol cookstoves in the country and demand by households for this clean and renewable energy cooking technology is increasing.

Runyoro also spoke on mobilising bioethanol fuel production by small and large scale producers as well as its safe bottling to reach customers.

“On this, the project has reached out to potential bioethanol producers and enlightened them on how sufficient the prospective market was and this aims at making them produce this important product”.

The value chain of using bioethanol for cooking has enormous potential for creating decent employment opportunities, improving enterprises’ cash flows and broadening the economy.

Initially, the project was funded by Global Environment Facility which is headquartered in Washington DC. New stakeholders are participating in promoting the use of bioethanol for cooking, including the European Union which is also funding some of the undertakings being implemented by UNIDO and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).