The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) and the Global LPG Partnership (GLPGP) have mobilized $1 billion in financing for clean cooking solutions. The fund will support the development and deployment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) throughout the continent.
“LPG not only offers a lifeline to millions but also paves the way for a greener, more sustainable future,” stated Executive Chairman of the GLPGP Kimball Chen, adding, “We urge global leaders, institutional donors and private stakeholders to seize this opportunity and commit to decisive action, safeguarding lives, livelihoods and the environment.”
With Africa’s population forecast to increase to 2.5 billion by 2050, access to clean cooking solutions will be imperative for the continent to mitigate public health risks and promote human development.
“While the rest of the world has seen huge advances in universal clean cooking access, today, four in five Africans – roughly 1 billion people – still lack access to clean cooking,” stated ARDA Executive Secretary Anibor Kragha. “This remains not only one of the major barriers to achieving access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern access to energy on the continent, but also one of the greatest health, economic and environmental burdens.”
With a gas refining capacity of approximately 75 million tons per year in Africa in 2022, spread across just 20 countries, the fund is set to limit the continent’s overreliance on imports to meet its LPG demand. The fund is also expected to expand Africa’s LPG storage capacity, with only six nations on the continent boasting a combined storage capacity greater than 50,000 tons.
