KEY POINTS
- Sahara Group says LPG is the fastest and most practical solution to Africa’s energy access gap.
- Global supply disruptions have exposed the continent’s vulnerability to external energy shocks.
- Experts call for stronger infrastructure, policy reforms, and investment to scale LPG adoption.
Sahara Group has positioned liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, as the most practical and immediate solution to Africa’s energy access challenges, amid rising global supply disruptions and infrastructure gaps.
Speaking at the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) 2026 Leadership Roundtable in Cape Town, the company’s Executive Director, Wale Ajibade, emphasised that LPG offers a scalable pathway to clean, reliable, and secure energy across the continent.
“Africa’s transition must be built around solutions that work now,” Ajibade said, stressing that LPG is not a temporary option but a critical bridge to energy access, resilience, and economic growth.
Ajibade noted that recent disruptions in global energy supply chains—particularly tensions around the Strait of Hormuz—have exposed Africa’s dependence on external energy routes.
He explained that such crises, which drove crude oil prices above $110 per barrel, significantly impacted LPG and LNG supply flows to the continent.
According to him, Africa must prioritise energy resilience by investing in storage, shipping flexibility, diversified sourcing, and stronger regional coordination to reduce vulnerability to global shocks.
Closing Africa’s Clean Cooking Gap
A major focus of the discussion was Africa’s clean cooking deficit, with nearly one billion people in sub-Saharan Africa still lacking access to safe and clean cooking solutions.
Ajibade argued that LPG adoption, supported by coordinated policies and investments, could significantly bridge this gap.
Industry projections from African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) indicate that more than 60% of future clean cooking access in Africa will come from LPG, which already accounts for about 75% of recent transitions in the sector.
Despite this potential, Africa currently represents only about 4% of global LPG consumption, with experts attributing the gap to weak delivery systems rather than lack of demand.
To unlock LPG growth, stakeholders highlighted the need for harmonised import duties, standardised cylinders, improved storage and distribution networks, and targeted incentives for households.
Ajibade also pointed to the importance of blended financing models and data-driven monitoring systems to accelerate adoption across the continent.
He added that Sahara Group has been actively investing in LPG infrastructure, including trading, shipping, storage, and last-mile distribution.
Over the past decade, the company has delivered over six million cubic metres of LPG across West Africa, supported by an expanding fleet and growing storage capacity.
