Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is gaining stronger backing as Africa’s most practical route to clean and reliable energy, with Sahara Group pushing for accelerated adoption across the continent amid rising global supply uncertainties.
Speaking at the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) conference in Cape Town, Sahara Group’s Executive Director, Wale Ajibade, stressed the urgency of deploying solutions that deliver immediate impact.
“Africa’s transition must be built around solutions that work now,” he said. “LPG is not an interim compromise, it is the fastest bridge to energy access, resilience and shared prosperity for Africa.”
The renewed push comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the Middle East, particularly disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, which have exposed Africa’s vulnerability to global supply shocks affecting both LPG and liquefied natural gas flows.
“For African economies, the lesson is clear: energy resilience is built through infrastructure that incorporates robust storage, shipping optionality, diversified sourcing and regional coordination,” Ajibade added. “The continent must outgrow its dependency on fragile global routes.”
Industry data shows that nearly one billion Africans still lack access to clean cooking solutions, a gap LPG is well-positioned to fill. Projections from ARDA indicate LPG could account for over 60% of clean cooking adoption across the continent, with current transitions already heavily reliant on the fuel.
Despite this potential, Africa contributes just 4% of global LPG consumption, largely due to weak distribution systems rather than low demand. Stakeholders are calling for stronger regional collaboration, improved infrastructure, and targeted incentives to drive adoption at scale.
Ajibade noted that Sahara Group has already taken significant steps in that direction. “Over the past decade, Sahara Group has pursued a deliberate, integrated LPG strategy spanning trading, shipping, storage and last-mile distribution,” he said, adding that the company has delivered over six million cubic metres of LPG across West Africa since 2017.