The Impact of Rural Energy Use on the Environment During the Economic Reforms Period(1981-1992): Some Evidence From Tanzania

Abstract

The article briefly presents the energy situation in Tanzania, discusses
the relationship between structural adjustment programmes and emerge
use problems. It looks at the objectives of these SAP programmes to
see the effects on the energy sector and how these, in turn, affect the
environment. In the article, a number of observations are made
including the foIlowing ones: the pattern of electricity tariff revisions
which have been affected by TANESCO, have created a structure
which may be environmentally devastating by encouraging the
consumers to use more fuelwood and charcoal for their energy needs;
from the official aggregate data for urban fuelwood and charcoal
consumption, the own price responsiveness for fuelwood demand, was
found to have been negative and inelastic; a substitution relationship
was found to have existed between kerosene and fuelwood; as income
rises urban consumers use less fuelwood and conversely, if urban
dweIler's income faIls relative to rising prices or increased
unemployment, more people will turn to the use of fuelwood and
charcoal for their everyday energy needs; the urban population
coefficient for fuelwood, indicates that an increase in the urban
population coefficient for fuelwood, indicates that an increase in the
urban population puts pressure on woodfuel demand through consuming
more woodfuel; the positive relationship between electricity price and
charcoal demand, means that a substitution relationship existed between
the two energy sources for the period of analysis (1977-1995) and
finally examples drawn from Lushoto and Nzihi provide empirical
evidence that factors such as cost of fuel availability and ease of access
to fuelwood do influence choice of fuel source by most consumers.