Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, President of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) and Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, has called for immediate action to tackle Africa’s clean cooking crisis.
He highlighted the urgent need for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to replace traditional biomass fuels like wood and charcoal, which millions of Africans still rely on.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid warned that progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7)—which aims to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all—is moving too slowly, particularly in Africa, which faces significant challenges.
Speaking at the opening of the 2024 ARDA LPG Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, he noted that “80% of Africans still use polluting fuels for cooking, leading to nearly half a million premature deaths annually.”
The theme for this year’s forum, “Revolutionizing LPG Adoption and Long-Term Sustainability as a Cleaner Cooking Alternative across Africa,” focused on achieving universal access to LPG by 2030, improving affordability and accessibility, fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships, and developing infrastructure and supply chains.
The inaugural ARDA LPG Forum brought together regulators, project developers, financiers, and experts to share success stories in LPG adoption, strengthen regulatory commitments, and secure financing for clean cooking solutions.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid emphasized that with Africa’s rapid population growth, innovative energy solutions are essential. He asserted that adopting LPG is crucial for reducing health risks, promoting sustainability, and fostering economic growth.
The NPA has urged African governments and international stakeholders to collaborate on accelerating LPG infrastructure development and creating supportive policies for the transition to cleaner energy sources.
ARDA believes that partnerships between the public and private sectors are vital for expanding LPG access, reducing costs, and making clean energy affordable for low-income households.
“LPG is a proven solution to one of the biggest energy challenges we face,” Dr. Abdul-Hamid stated. “We cannot afford to wait—this is a crisis, and we need everyone involved to address it.”
