LPGSA joins the global fraternityin celebrating LPG Day

 

The global LPG industry will celebrate LPG Day on 7 June 2024, an annual global awareness day dedicated to showcasing the benefits of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). This celebration is an opportunity for the LPG industry worldwide to raise awareness about LPG’s versatility and its positive impact on millions of lives.

 

LPG Day serves as a platform to highlight how versatile LPG is as an energy source. It is clean, efficient, and portable fuel that serves various uses, including cooking, heating, transportation, and industrial settings. The day underscores LPG’s role in enhancing quality of life, fostering economic growth, and promoting environmental sustainability.

 

This year, industry leaders, stakeholders, and consumers will come together to share stories, and engage in activities that demonstrate LPG’s wide-ranging functions and benefits. From rural households to urban cities, LPG’s ability to provide reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy is incomparable.

 

Join us on the week leading to the 7 June as we celebrate LPG Day and continue to advocate for LPG as energy source for South Africa.

 

Follow the conversation on our social media using the hashtag #LPGDay and learn more about how LPG is making a difference around the world.

 

Contact:
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa (LPGSA)
Zikhona Ntshingila
Marketing & Communications Specialist
Cell: +27 (0)68 323 9759
Email: Zikhona@lpgas.co.za

 

Issued by KW Kreatives on behalf of Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Association of South Africa
Naledi Opoku-Boaten
PR & Communications Intern
Cell: 073 576 6079
Email: naledi@kwkreatives.com

LPG’s Vital Role in Clean Cooking, Climate Solutions, and Sustainable Development

By Michael Kelly

COP28 was gaveled to a close on the morning of 13th December after a long night of sometimes heated negotiations. The eventual impacts of the agreement are still being parsed but one thing is very clear, for the first time in the conference’s extensive history, COP28 placed clean cooking at the forefront of discussions around climate change, environmental sustainability, carbon finance, investment, gender equality, food systems, and sustainable cities. This is the first time the global community acknowledged the importance of clean cooking in so many different and crucial areas of development and environmental impact.




As a clean cooking fuel, LPG can replace traditional biomass and coal, mitigating indoor air pollution and improving the health and well-being of millions worldwide. With approximately one-third of the world’s population lacking access to clean cooking methods and relying on polluting fuels, the use of LPG can have a significant positive impact by reducing household air pollution and preventing an estimated 3.8 million premature deaths annually, surpassing the total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Switching to LPG also helps stave off global deforestation by eliminating the need to harvest trees for fuel. Switching just 100 households from harvested wood to LPG could save one hectare of forest annually. In fact, we can save 2.65 million hectares of forest, or 51% of annual global net deforestation, with every 268 million households converted to using LPG.




In Africa, the most common use of LPG is for cooking and it is not only a tool to reduce emissions, but also to advance gender equality. In many communities, the burden of cooking with solid fuel falls disproportionately on women and girls. In addition to reducing the effects of harmful air pollution, switching to LPG frees up time for women and girls to study or work outside the home.




Recognition of the benefits of LPG is being driven by the leaders of organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) which during COP28 pledged up to 20 percent of AfDB’s future approved annual lending programmes for energy will be allocated toward clean cooking. The Executive Director of IEA, Fatih Birol, stated that he wanted to make 2024 a pivotal year in addressing the challenge of clean cooking in Africa and is convening a major high-level summit on the 14th of May 2024 in Paris to address this issue.




In the face of escalating climate change concerns and the urgent need to transition to cleaner energy sources, LPG emerges as a powerful ally in our quest for a sustainable future. LPG’s versatility offers a range of applications that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and support global decarbonisation efforts.




The World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) and its members such as the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa (LPGSA) are committed to ensuring that access to LPG continues to increase across the African continent. We invite you to join us in November 2024 in the magical city of Cape Town for LPG Week 2024 (https://www.lpgweek.com/capetown2024). LPG Week is the LPG industry’s premier global event bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders in the LPG industry to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and challenges facing the sector. This year in Cape Town we are meeting under the theme of “Energy For All” which emphasises the immense benefits of LPG as a clean fuel ensuring widespread access to clean energy throughout Africa.

Total Energies Announces Exhibition at Mall of the North in Polokwane Following Khayelitsha Success

Polokwane, South Africa – February 27, 2024 – Total Energies is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition at the Mall of the North in Polokwane, scheduled for March 1st, 2024. Building on the resounding success of the Total Gas exhibition sponsored in Khayelitsha on November 3rd, 2023, Total Energies is eager to engage with the community in Polokwane and share its innovative energy solutions.

The exhibition held in Khayelitsha last year witnessed a remarkable turnout, with record-breaking registration numbers and enthusiastic participation from the local community. The event featured giveaways including vouchers valued at R 1000 and Shesha’s cooker tops and cylinders, underscoring Total Energies’ dedication to nurturing dialogue and advancing sustainable energy practices throughout South Africa. The event served as a platform for displaying Total Energies’ latest advancements in energy technology and promoting environmental awareness. Encouraged by the positive feedback and enthusiastic participation from the Khayelitsha community, Total Energies is thrilled to extend its engagement to Polokwane. The Mall of the North exhibition promises to be an interactive and informative experience for attendees, featuring demonstrations, informational sessions, and opportunities to learn about Total Energies’ diverse range of products and services.

Following the success of our previous event in Khayelitsha, we are eager to continue fostering meaningful conversations around energy sustainability and environmental stewardship. The exhibition will highlight Total Energies’ commitment to providing cleaner, more efficient energy solutions while emphasizing the importance of environmental responsibility and community engagement. Visitors can expect to explore interactive displays, engage with experts, and discover how Total Energies is shaping the future of energy in South Africa and beyond.

The Total Energies exhibition at the Mall of the North in Polokwane will take place on March 1st, 2024, from 09:30 – 15:30. Admission is free, and all community members are encouraged to attend.

Total Energies is a global energy company committed to providing innovative solutions for sustainable energy production and consumption. With a presence in over 130 countries, Total Energies is dedicated to addressing the world’s energy challenges while reducing its environmental footprint.

Opinion: LPGSA’s Educational Tour

Illuminating Pathways to Sustainable Energy

In an age of evolving energy needs, communities across South Africa are navigating a
transformative journey toward sustainable energy sources. Amidst this evolution, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa (LPGSA) embarked on a captivating odyssey through various provinces, enlightening citizens about the virtues of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). This educational tour, akin to a beacon of enlightenment, charted its course through bustling malls and shopping centers, delivering essential knowledge about LPG’s benefits and safety measures.



The tour, an ensemble of educational exhibitions, was a symphony of engagement and information dissemination. Its journey unfolded across diverse provinces, leaving an indelible mark on communities’ perceptions of energy usage. Starting in Gauteng’s Maponya Mall and Orange Farm Mall, where enthusiastic crowds engaged with LPGSA’s experts, the tour continued its voyage, traversing through the Northern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Free State provinces.



Each stop became a nexus of learning and discovery, as citizens, young and old, gathered to understand the transformative potential of LPG. The exhibitions were not merely showcases; they were interactive sanctuaries where questions were answered, myths dispelled, and safety protocols explained. Citizens were empowered with the understanding of how LPG could revolutionize their households, offering reliability, efficiency, and a cleaner footprint in their daily lives.



The Western Cape leg of the tour, culminating at Khayelitsha Mall and Gugulethu Square Mall, brought an invigorating crescendo to this enlightening journey. These vibrant communities embraced the information with fervor, showcasing an eagerness to embrace cleaner energy options for a brighter tomorrow.



As the tour reached its pinnacle in the North West province, Rustenburg Mall and Mega City Mall played host to a captivated audience eager to embrace the wisdom imparted by LPGSA. The journey’s conclusion was a testament to the thirst for knowledge and the willingness of communities to adopt sustainable energy practices.



However, the success of this expedition transcended mere numbers or footfall statistics. It echoed in the minds and hearts of communities touched by the information shared – knowledge that has the power to shape a more sustainable future. It instilled the awareness that small changes, starting within households, can ripple outward, impacting communities and the environment positively.



The LPGSA’s educational tour, an embodiment of enlightenment and empowerment, stands as a cornerstone in the drive towards sustainable energy practices. As citizens return to their homes with newfound awareness, the legacy of this educational outreach program endures, igniting a flame of change that illuminates pathways to a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future.

The Role of LPG in Energy Security

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a mixture of butane and propane, proportions of which are dependent on the season, but the summer grade is 40% butane and 60% propane. In South Africa, LPG is produced almost entirely as a by-product of the oil-refining process but with the closure of refineries in the country, a greater portion of the country’s needs will have to be met through imports.

 

For fuel retail service stations, the three key strategic success factors are – location, location, and location. For LPG and other fuel gases, the three important issues are safety, safety, and safety. However, LPG, the “energy in a bottle”, if used correctly, is an extremely safe source of energy. LPG is versatile, relatively easy to store, and an extremely potent energy carrier. For intermittent thermal applications, especially domestic and commercial applications, LPG presents the best value-for-money solutions.

 

South Africa is not blessed with gas resources, and therefore apprehension about a dependence on such an energy carrier is understood. The increased dependence on imports will affect South Africa’s energy independence aspirations and expose the country to the vagaries of commodity price fluctuations and exchange rate variations. However, there is no better energy carrier for ad hoc thermal applications than gas. The old adage that “when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail,” is very prevalent in energy. However, the correct approach is to “use the right tool for the right job.” Gas is the right tool for thermal energy applications.

 

It is important for one to understand one’s energy demand profile and to be aware of the relationship between energy demand and supply options available. Furthermore, it is also key to appreciate the affordability, ease of use, safety, environmental, and health issues linked to each supply option. Energy security seeks to encapsulate all these issues and goes beyond supply security. South Africa defined energy security as “ensuring that diverse energy resources, in sustainable quantities and at affordable prices, are available to the South African economy in support of economic growth and poverty alleviation, taking into account environmental management requirements and interactions among economic sectors.” It is unfortunate that for commentators, energy security has been reduced to supply security, disregarding issues pertaining to demand security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.

 

Natural gas is, for a number of reasons, still a luxury in South Africa. Sustainable gas regime demands simultaneous solutions of three interrelated issues, namely: i) consumer demand for the security of gas supply to allow them to switch, ii) requirement by suppliers for the security of demand to facilitate investment in supply, and iii) the need for investment in appropriate gas infrastructure (pipelines, storage, and appliances) by suppliers and consumers alike. LPG is the most appropriate way to build demand to a critical mass that is required to drive the requisite gas supply framework. For South Africa, to adequately meet the majority of residential and commercial energy demand, solving the gas trilemma is important.

 

For people who had been previously denied access to electricity, promoting the use of gas for space heating, cooking, and water heating, could be perceived as a step backward. Universal access to electricity is an admirable aspiration for all South Africans, however, throwing electricity into all energy problems is not a solution. In developed countries, with great renewable energy agendas, gas is integral in their gas supply mix, not only in terms of gas-to-power but in the direct use of gas.

 

Figure 1 – Gas use in the US

 

As can be seen in Figure 1, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), “In 2020, 61% of U.S. households used natural gas for at least one energy end use, according to our 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). Space heating, water heating, and cooking were the most common end uses; more than half of U.S. households used natural gas for space heating, closely followed by water heating… Although space heating, water heating, and cooking are the most prevalent household uses of natural gas in the United States, it is also used for clothes drying, outdoor grilling, and heating pools and hot tubs.”

 

For thermal applications, the use of gas is the most economical decision to make. Considering Table 1, it is quite clear that using LPG for heating is the cheapest option for residential consumers. Consumers can save up to three-quarters of energy costs through the correct choice and use of gas. LPG has no equal for heating.

 

Table 1 – Theoretical comparisons of energy carriers

 

Safety concerns associated with LPG are real. Gas is a potent energy carrier and it demands that it be treated with the respect it deserves, which includes correct choice, installation, and safe use of appliances and equipment. Gas is arguably the correct tool for thermal applications but it demands correct and correctly maintained appliances, and safe supply infrastructure installation (eg. home piping, etc.). For gas, safety is the ultimate – including ensuring that both installations and installers are accredited. Gas is ultimately the correct tool for thermal applications.