The LPG fear holding back clean cooking in Africa

The issue of clean cooking goes beyond poverty and beyond even energy poverty

There is scepticism and fear surrounding clean cooking modern alternatives like LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) canisters in some African rural communities. 

Dr Temilola George (Head of Energy Studies/Data Unit, African Petroleum Producers’ Association – APPO) says women in these areas believe that traditional cooking methods, which often involve firewood or charcoal, provide a sense of energy and security.

“Some of these women believe that using LPG canisters could potentially burn their houses and cause other hazards. So they need education. They require education to grasp the inverse relationship. Clean cooking can actually give them good health, because indoor pollution is killing thousands of people in Africa.”

George emphasised that the issue of clean cooking goes beyond poverty and beyond even energy poverty. It affects health and especially impacts women more so than men. So, this topic needs to be further elaborated.

“It affects the health, and it affects women especially. And when you look at the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber NJ Ayuk’s welcoming address in this conference, when he started talking about accessibility, the first thing he talked about was clean cooking, because this is the main yardstick that is being used to judge Africa as being in energy poverty, because we don’t have access to clean cooking.”

Cover photo:  gioiaphoto©123rf