Urgent Call for Action: ARDA President Highlights Africa’s Clean Cooking Crisis
Urgent Call for Action: ARDA President Highlights Africa's Clean Cooking Crisis
- The NPA is urging African governments and international partners to work together
- ARDA advocates for collaboration between the public and private sectors
- Dr. Abdul-Hamid underscored the importance of innovative energy solutions
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the President of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) and Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, has urgently called for action to resolve Africa’s clean cooking crisis.
He emphasized the pressing need for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to replace traditional biomass fuels such as wood and charcoal, which continue to be used by millions of Africans.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid expressed concern that efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7)—aimed at providing affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all—are lagging, especially in Africa, where the challenges are particularly severe.
During his address at the 2024 ARDA LPG Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, he pointed out that “80% of Africans still rely on polluting fuels for cooking, resulting in nearly half a million premature deaths each year.”
This year’s forum, themed “Revolutionizing LPG Adoption and Long-Term Sustainability as a Cleaner Cooking Alternative across Africa,” aimed to secure universal access to LPG by 2030, enhance its affordability and accessibility, promote collaboration among stakeholders, and develop the necessary infrastructure and supply chains.
The first-ever ARDA LPG Forum gathered regulators, project developers, financiers, and industry experts to share successful LPG initiatives, reinforce regulatory commitments, and secure funding for clean cooking solutions.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid underscored the importance of innovative energy solutions in light of Africa’s rapid population growth, arguing that LPG adoption is key to mitigating health risks, fostering sustainability, and driving economic development.
The NPA is urging African governments and international partners to work together to expedite the development of LPG infrastructure and implement policies that facilitate the transition to cleaner energy options.
ARDA advocates for collaboration between the public and private sectors as essential for increasing LPG access, lowering costs, and making clean energy more affordable for low-income families.
“LPG is a proven answer to one of our most pressing energy challenges,” Dr. Abdul-Hamid declared. “We cannot delay—this is a crisis, and we need collective action to tackle it.”
