On-line workshop delivers roadmap for Ecosystem Approach to deliver affordable, accessible LPG to all customers.

The African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) workshop was highlighted by active support from major international LPG sector players, including the Global LPG Partnership (GLPGP), World LPG Association, Clean Cooking Alliance, Shell Foundation, and Oryx Energies, for development of a robust African LPG value chain. Standard Bank and the African Development Bank also shared insights regarding key factors required to ensure an enabling environment to promote LPG investments, the IEA and Argus Media provided outlooks on Africa’s LPG demand-supply mix through 2040, while Bboxx and Bidhaa Sasa contributed their experiences delivering affordable LPG solutions to rural DRC and Kenyan communities respectively.

Mr Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of ARDA, stated “The deployment of the planned Africa LPG Sector Development Fund to finance National LPG ecosystems at country-level will ensure a robust, full value chain approach to drive sustainable investments and accelerate LPG adoption across the continent.”

Kimball Chen, Chairman/CEO of GLPGP, stated “LPG for Clean Cooking in Africa is a priority issue for the international community – governments and various institutions – as well as private sector capital providers as evidenced by recent feasibility studies in DRC, Kenya Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Uganda, and the banks and traders who have expressed interest in financing African LPG sector investments.”

The ARDA’s members and sponsors, enjoyed varied presentations on global LPG industry best practices, country case studies (Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania), Pay-As-You-Go & rural microfinance solutions and the role of LPG in Africa’s Energy transition.

Mr Kragha expressed his delight at the success of the workshop and lauded participants who demonstrated a keen concern for LPG solutions to address the carbon emissions challenges. “An integrated Ecosystem Approach for deploying sustainable investments across the LPG value chain is essential in Africa’s drive towards world-class per capita consumption of LPG”, he stated at the close of the workshop.

The virtual LPG workshop was the first of ARDA’s new, seven-part, virtual workshop series aimed at fostering collaboration and sharing of best practices amongst ARDA Members, Sponsors and key stakeholders. Six other workshops are to be held between now and July – covering Storage & Distribution, Refining & Specifications, HSE & Quality, Human Capital, Sustainable Financing and Regulation – as a build up to its annual ARDA Week 2021 conference in October this year which will focus on developing Africa’s Downstream Energy Transition Plan.

The ARDA was formed in 2006 in order to provide a pan-African voice for the African oil supply, refining and distribution industry. The ARDA represents not only refiners but also many product importers, storage companies, marketers, and government regulators.

For further details see www.afrra.org or contact the ARDA on info@afrra.org