When we were kids, we were told that the main source of energy was firewood. We used it to cook and do everything. By the time we became used to firewood, the government announced that gas was now the cleaner source of cooking energy.
It was a bit tough for many Tanzanians to embrace this new source of cooking fuel. Many people feared that LPG was highly explosive and could endanger their homes. It was also seen as a luxury reserved for the rich.
But if you look at the data today, you will realize that consumption and imports are increasing, and government subsidies are encouraging households to shift away from charcoal and firewood.
According to the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), LPG imports increased from 293,167 metric tons in 2023 to 403,638 metric tons in 2024 — a 38% rise. This surge is a direct result of policies that promote clean cooking as an alternative to wood fuels, especially the implementation of the government directive requiring public and private institutions serving food to over 300 individuals each day to cease using firewood and transition to cleaner cooking energy sources by January 2024.
The rapid rise in imports shows that demand exists and will continue to grow.
One of the biggest hindrance to LPG penetration is the initial cost of acquiring cylinders. Recognizing this, the government aims to distribute 452,445 LPG cylinders at subsidized prices across all regions of the country.
However, clean cooking penetration remains low. Currently, only about 7% of the Tanzanian population uses clean cooking solutions. With a national population of 69 million people, this equates to approximately 4.8 million individuals.
The government’s target is for 80% of the population to adopt clean cooking solutions by 2034. With the population forecast to reach about 90.4 million by then, this equates to approximately 72 million people.
As such, we estimate an increase of 67.2 million people using clean cooking solutions (primarily LPG) in their homes over the next nine years.
In addition, per capita consumption is still one of the lowest in the African region. In 2022, per capita LPG consumption was just 2.6 kilograms per year, compared to a government target of roughly 10 kilograms by 2033.
This gap between current use and future goals highlights an enormous growth opportunity. If Tanzania can quadruple per capita use in the next decade, the LPG sector could emerge as one of the fastest-growing segments of the energy economy
This means the transition to clean cooking in the country is still in its early stages. To achieve the untapped potential, there needs to be strategic investment along the entire LPG value chain — in storage, refilling plants, transport, cylinder distribution, and customer financing.
Where Investment is Needed.
The rapid rise in imports shows that demand exists and will continue to grow. What is missing is infrastructure and financing to capture that demand efficiently.
Because of our estimate, we project an increase of 67.2 million people using clean cooking solutions (primarily LPG) in their homes over the next nine years. An investment is critical in areas such as storage terminals and depots, LPG cylinder filling plants, bulk trucks and tankers, wholesale distribution, swap models, and consumer financing to meet growing demand.
Conclusion.
Tanzania’s LPG story is one of potential still waiting to be realized. The government has signaled its commitment with subsidies and targets, but public funds alone will not deliver a clean cooking revolution. Strategic private investment, supported by smart policies, can bridge the gap between aspiration and reality.
If Tanzania succeeds, the benefits will ripple across the economy: reduced health costs, preserved forests, and millions of households gaining access to modern energy. The challenge is clear, and so is the opportunity — now is the time to invest in Tanzania’s LPG future.
