LPG Crisis Threatens Africa's Clean Cooking Progress

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued a warning that the ongoing LPG crisis, triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, poses a significant threat to Africa's progress in clean cooking. The agency reports that sharply rising LPG prices are making the fuel unaffordable for many households, particularly in markets without state-set fuel pricing, such as Nigeria and Uganda.

This situation could lead to a regression to more polluting cooking fuels, exacerbating household air pollution, which is linked to 2.5 million premature deaths annually. The IEA notes that nearly two billion people globally rely on wood, charcoal, and other polluting fuels for cooking, with half of this population residing in Africa.

Despite some progress, with 23% of sub-Saharan Africans gaining access to clean cooking by 2024, population growth has outpaced this advancement, resulting in an increase of around 14 million people without access to clean cooking solutions. LPG remains the dominant clean cooking fuel in Africa, accounting for over 70% of those with access.