Biomass to liquefied petroleum gas cooking energy: A solution to indoor pollution ailments in Temeke Municipality, Dar-Es-Salaam

Abstract

In 2010 World Health Organization estimated that three people per minute die prematurely in Sub-Saharan Africa from diseases attributable to Indoor Air Pollution (IAP). About 95% of Tanzanians still use biomass cooking fuels (BCF) which is the main source of IAP. Promotion of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was done since mid-2000s to substitute BCF. However, the use of LPG accounts for only 7.2% of Tanzanians to date. Therefore this paper examined factors influencing use of LPG in Temeke municipality - Dar-es-Salaam. Data were collected from 160 respondents using questionnaires and analysed by using Probit regression model. Results revealed that education level of a household head, household income and time saved for cooking had significant effect on use of LPG at a probability level of P<0.1. The probability of using LPG increased by 3.4% with an increase of one more year of education for household heads attaining formal education. Moreover, the probability of using LPGs increased by 11% among household heads whose monthly income increased by 1million Tanzanian Shillings (USD 409). Surprisingly, the probability of using LPG decreased by 0.2% as households saved an additional minute compared to using biomass fuels. It is recommended that the government, private sector and development partners promote LPG use through awareness creation; incorporating LPG use in education and energy policy and conducting research on 'value engineering of LPG cooking facilities' to reduce costs for users.