Smart Pika to Bring Energy-Efficient Electric Stoves to 500,000 Tanzanians in 2025
Dar es Salaam – A local company is set to reach 500,000 Tanzanians next year by providing modern, energy-efficient electric stoves through an affordable instalment payment system, supporting the national clean cooking agenda.
Smart Pika’s initiative aims to make clean cooking accessible to low-income households across Tanzania through an innovative financing model that allows customers to receive stoves immediately and pay in small instalments via mobile money, similar to the country’s prepaid electricity system.
The company has introduced a pay-in-instalments system linked to mobile phones to help customers manage their payments more easily, making the technology accessible to low-income earners who might otherwise be unable to afford the upfront costs.
The initiative aligns with the government’s ambitious goal of ensuring 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking solutions by 2034, contributing to reduced environmental degradation and health problems associated with traditional cooking methods.
Community Impact
Smart Pika recently visited Kibasila Primary School, donating modern stoves and school bags to pupils and teachers as part of efforts to raise awareness about clean energy benefits. This marks the second visit to the school, where the installed modern stove has helped reduce cooking costs and ensured pupils receive their meals on time.
The company has set an ambitious long-term target of reaching five million households, approximately 20 million people, by 2034. By the end of this year, Smart Pika expects to sell at least 5,000 stoves through the instalment plan, driven by strong demand and positive feedback from early adopters.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
Electric stoves offer multiple advantages, including affordability, reduced deforestation, and decreased air pollution. The pay-as-you-go model makes these stoves accessible to a broader population through manageable small instalments, accelerating the national clean cooking agenda while reducing environmental pollution.
Kibasila Primary School has experienced significant operational improvements since adopting the technology. Daily cooking costs have dropped from approximately Sh20,000 spent on firewood to just Sh5,000 for electricity, while students now receive their meals on time and working conditions for kitchen staff have improved substantially.
School administrators are encouraging other educational institutions to follow this example and adopt clean cooking technology to benefit from similar cost savings and efficiency gains.
