World Liquid Gas Association launches roadmap to expand access to clean cooking solutions across Africa

Sub : Env

Sec :Int Conventions

Context:

The World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) has launched a roadmap to improve access to clean cooking solutions in Africa by increasing the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
WLGA promotes LPG globally to foster a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous world.

LPG Roadmap for Africa:

Aims for full access to clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
Focuses on three calls to action for the public and private sectors:
1. Regulatory Frameworks: Establish clear and enforceable regulations to scale the LPG market.
2. Consumer Financing: Implement payment plans to address economic barriers.
3. Infrastructure Investment: Improve storage, distribution, and delivery networks, especially in remote areas.

Significance of the Roadmap:

Offers solutions to:
- Improve public health by reducing household air pollution.
- Address environmental issues like deforestation and carbon emissions.
- Drive economic development and enhance living standards.

Challenges in Clean Cooking Access:

Global Impact: Nearly 2.5 billion people lack access to clean cooking solutions, including 900 million in Africa.
Consequences of Traditional Fuels:
- Solid fuels like firewood contribute to deforestation, climate change, and severe health issues.

Role of LPG in Addressing the Crisis:

LPG is identified by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and WLGA as a critical clean cooking solution.
IEA’s Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa (May 14, 2024) highlighted that:
- LPG outshines alternatives in affordability and reliability.
- Explored innovative solutions like electric cooking and small-scale biofuel production.

WLGA’s Commitment:

Partnered with S&P Global Commodity Insights (SPGCI) to:
- Review the clean cooking crisis.
- Analyse LPG’s role as an immediate solution.
- Provide recommendations for expanding LPG access in sub-Saharan Africa.
CFLA Task Force: Guides stakeholders on countries with high potential to expand LPG consumption by 2030.

Benefits of Switching to LPG:

Health Benefits: Reduces indoor air pollution by 98% when replacing wood-burning stoves with LPG stoves.
Environmental Impact:
- Saves 260–312 million trees annually (400,000 hectares of forestland).
- Reduces black carbon emissions by 130,000 tons in 2030 (equivalent to 117 million tons of CO₂).
- Each household switching to LPG averts 490 kg of CO₂ annually.
Economic Opportunities: Boosts rural living standards and empowers marginalized communities.

LPG-led Regulatory and Infrastructure Solutions:

Key Priorities:
- Build partnerships between governments, market players, and industry associations.
- Promote regulatory models like the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM).
- Implement fiscal policies to encourage LPG adoption.
Government Example:
- Angola controls LPG prices through subsidies, making it one of the cheapest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Investment Needs:
- Large-scale infrastructure investments require significant foreign funding to scale LPG distribution across Africa.

About World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA):

WLGA is the only global body representing the LPG industry worldwide.
It was established in 1987 and granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1989.
It has also developed long standing partnerships with other international bodies such as various departments of the UN, the World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Development Banks and a number of well-respected international NGOs such as the Partnership on Clean Indoor Air (PCIA) and E+Co.
The WLGA brings together over 300 private and public companies operating in more than 125 countries involved in one, several or all activities of the industry; develops long-term partnerships with international organisations; and implements projects on local and global scales.
The WLGA works on a Three Year Strategic Review which outlines WLGA activities over a three year period and ensures maximum value for the WLGA membership. The current Strategic Review covers 2023-2025 under the theme ‘Solutions for Sustainable Energy Transitions’.
The WLGA mission statement forms the four principal goals of the WLGA in this period, namely: Advocacy (ADV); Safety and Business Improvement (SBI); Sustainable Growth & Innovation (SGI); and Communications & Awareness (COM).

Source: DTE