By Imanuel Muro
History will highlight 2024 as a pivotal year in the transition to clean cooking solutions. In Tanzania, the ten-year national clean cooking strategy was launched, setting the bold ambition to achieve 80 percent household adoption by 2034.
At the Paris Clean Cooking Conference in May, emphasis was placed on the policy frameworks, technological innovations, financing mechanisms and partnerships to promote clean cooking.
As co-chair of the summit, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, affirmed that, “We are integrating clean cooking targets into our national energy policies to ensure a coordinated and effective approach. This includes providing incentives for the adoption of clean cooking technologies.”
The commitment by President Hassan to alleviate the burden on women, promote environmental conservation and realise economic benefits of the transition is a positive step in the journey towards household adoption. In this article, we explore insights from the conference on the cost of the transition and technologies that will advance clean cooking in Tanzania.
The National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy estimates that it will cost around $1.8 billion (Sh4.6 trillion) to support the transition from the current ten percent to 80 percent of the population and households using clean cooking energy by 2034.
However, despite significant commitments, such as the World Bank’s Clean Cooking Fund and various pledges made at the Paris Clean Cooking Conference, the funding gap remains vast.
Tanzania’s geographical size (945,000 square kilometres) and its spread-out population translate into huge demand for supply chains, investment in monetary capital and technological deployment, especially digital innovation. Thankfully, however, the policy and regulatory environments are gradually being directed at addressing various barriers, especially with regard to capital and investment.
An impressive $2.2 billion was pledged at the summit by various governments, development partners, international agencies and private sector entities to advance clean cooking solutions across Africa.
Additionally, the African Development Bank made a significant pledge of $2 billion over the next decade. The conference highlighted various financing mechanisms to support clean cooking initiatives, including grants, loans and blended finance models.
Tanzania is actively engaged in several initiatives aimed at transitioning to clean cooking solutions. These initiatives are supported by government policies, international partnerships and local organisations.
A good example is the EU-funded CookFund programme being implemented by UNCDF in five Tanzania mainland regions of Dar es Salaam, Coast, Morogoro, Dodoma and Mwanza. The programme focuses on stimulating consumption from the lower end of the demand value chain.
Specifically, it works directly with the private sector to address the challenges of undercapitalisation, availability and end-user affordability.
This five-region pilot programme has stimulated latent demand within the project area and beyond, which means that more support is required from both the public sector and development partners to enhance private sector participation and change end-user mindsets.
While the global pledges signal a strong commitment to advancing clean cooking, the specific allocation to Tanzania remains less defined. The demonstrated commitment to mitigating climate change and improving health outcomes for women and children is key to attracting more funding for clean cooking.
While appreciating the Paris summit, commitment and national strategy, it is worth noting that there are always the costs of change which are far beyond the quantitative parameters.
While the quantitative can be monetised and measured, the qualitative, including cultural attributes, mindsets and beliefs, require different approaches to achieve the desired and sustained impact. Unless the qualitative component is well designed, tweaked and correctly delivered, the ultimate yield will end up being minimal.
To achieve transformative change, the rollout of appropriate solutions should consider diversity in cultures, free will of the user, family size, type and size of meals, availability of alternative fuel, etc. Of equal importance is the need for an appropriate energy mix that leverages the country’s available resources.
“Tone at the Top” is a unique push towards our national objective and priorities. President Hassan’s advocacy and commitment have set a strong foundation for future efforts.
The stage is set for a coordinated effort by relevant stakeholders to lead the change. By adopting policy measures, embracing technological innovations and securing funding, Tanzania can make substantial progress towards universal access to clean cooking.
Stakeholders across the board must act decisively to turn these insights into reality and improve the health, environment and economic well-being of Tanzanian communities.
Imanuel Muro is CookFund Programme Manager and UNCDF Senior Finance Specialist
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
Britam half-year net profit hits Sh2bn on higher investment income
Insurer and financial services provider Britam posted a 22.5 percent jump in net earnings for the half-year ended June 2024, to Sh2 billion, buoyed by increased investment income.
The rise in half-year net profit from Sh1.64 billion posted in a similar period last year came on the back of net investment income rising 2.5 times to Sh13.27 billion from Sh5.3 billion.
“We are confident in the growth and performance trend that Britam has achieved, supported by its subsidiaries in Kenya and the region. Our business is expanding its revenue base while effectively managing costs,” Britam Chief Executive Officer Tom Gitogo said.
“Our customer-centric approach is fueling growth in our customer base and product uptake, particularly through micro-insurance, partnerships, and digital channels.”
The investment income growth was fueled by interest and dividend income rising 34 percent to Sh9.1 billion, which the insurer attributed to growth in revenue and the gains from the realignment of the group’s investment portfolio.
Britam also booked a Sh3.79 billion gain on financial assets at a fair value, compared with a Sh1.8 billion loss posted in a similar period last year.
The increased investment income helped offset the 12.7 percent decline in net insurance service result to Sh2.13 billion in the wake of claims paid out rising at a faster pace than that of premiums received.
Britam said insurance revenue, which is money from written premiums, increased to Sh17.8 billion from Sh16.6 billion, primarily driven by growth in the Kenya insurance business and regional general insurance businesses, which contributed 30 percent of the revenue.
The group has a presence in seven countries in Africa namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Britam’s insurance service expense hit Sh13.6 billion from Sh11.3 billion, while net insurance finance expenses rose 2.6 times to Sh12.3 billion during the same period.
“Net insurance finance expenses increased mainly due to growth in interest cost for the deposit administration business driven by better investment performance. This has also been impacted by a decline in the yield curve, which has led to an increase in the insurance contract liabilities. The increase has been offset by a matching increase in fair value gain on assets,” said Britam.
Britam’s growth in profit is in line with that of other Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed insurers, which have seen a rise in profits.
Jubilee Holdings net profit in the six months increased by 22.7 percent to Sh2.5 billion on increased income from insurance, helping the insurer maintain Sh2 per share interim dividend.
CIC Insurance Group posted a 0.64 percent rise in net profit to Sh709.99 million in the same period as net earnings of Liberty Kenya nearly tripled to Sh632 million from Sh213 million, while Sanlam Kenya emerged from a loss to post a Sh282.2 million net profit.
Ground handling firms in Zanzibar start cutting jobs
ZAT and Transworld, companies providing ground handling services at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, have to lay off workers to stay afloat.Continue Reading
