The Rural Energy Agency (REA) and the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) signed a TZS 4.5 billion agreement on 22 July 2025 to establish a new plant for the production of alternative cooking energy, specifically Rafiki Briquettes, in Geita Region.
Rafiki Briquettes are smokeless coal briquettes made as an alternative source of energy for domestic purposes. It involves the use of coal dust and other subordinate materials.
Under the agreement, REA will contribute TZS 3 billion for the purchase of machinery, while STAMICO will cover the remaining TZS 1.5 billion for land acquisition, factory construction, and machinery installation.
The contract was signed by REA Director General Eng. Hassan Saidy and STAMICO Managing Director Dr. Venance Mwasse at REA’s office in Dar es Salaam.
The new plant will become STAMICO’s fifth major facility for producing Rafiki Briquettes.
Existing plants are already operating in Kisarawe (Pwani Region) and Kiwira (Songwe Region), while two more are nearing completion in Dodoma and Tabora.
Eng. Saidy noted that REA has been tasked with ensuring that 80% of Tanzanians access clean cooking energy by 2034.
He explained that the contract with STAMICO is part of REA’s broader strategy to increase clean energy production and distribution, especially in rural areas, in line with the directive of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He added that the agency is also implementing projects for distributing improved cookstoves, electric stoves, 6kg and 15kg LPG cylinders, and piped natural gas in Lindi and Pwani, as well as building clean energy infrastructure in public institutions.
Dr. Mwasse thanked the government for REA’s support and reiterated STAMICO’s commitment to eliminating the use of unsafe cooking energy nationwide by 2034.
He said the clean energy agenda, championed by President Samia, aims to empower women by transitioning away from hazardous energy sources.
He also noted that Rafiki Briquettes are already in use across all 129 prison facilities in Tanzania, as well as units of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (JWTZ), the National Service (JKT), training institutions, primary and secondary schools, hotels, restaurants, and food vendors.
Dr. Mwasse confirmed that STAMICO will maintain the equipment to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
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