Puma Energy Ghana, a leading energy company, reiterated its commitment to enabling access to energy – and specifically clean cooking solutions – when U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan visited its affiliate LPG (liquified petroleum gas) bottling facility.
The visit, attended by Mr. Michael S. Regan, Second Lady Samira Bawumia and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer, was aimed at familiarising them with Puma Energy Ghana’s LPG operations and the important role it plays in enabling access to LPG in Ghana.
In sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 970 million people lack access to clean cooking fuels and technologies according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), LPG plays a vital role in the energy mix. Many households rely on solid fuels such as wood and charcoal, or kerosene, leading to environmental and health hazards. Household air-pollution, predominantly from cooking smoke, is linked to 2.5 million premature deaths globally; while the use of wood also contributes to deforestation.
Puma Energy provides safe, reliable and affordable energy solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, and is encouraging the transition to cleaner cooking fuels and solar power. Its commitment to enabling access to lower carbon-emitting fuels is evidenced by the company’s recent acquisition of Zambian-based Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplier OGAZ, and its purchase of a 49 percent stake in MBHE – which provides renewable energy project development, implementation, and maintenance across southern Africa. Both acquisitions will strengthen Puma Energy’s capacity across its key markets.
Puma Energy’s LPG strategy for the sub-Saharan Africa region is to ensure availability, accessibility and affordability. This involves centralising supply management; setting up mobile cylinder-filling plants managed by local communities to bring the LPG closer to the end user; and working with regulators to allow consumers buy LPG in small quantities that they can afford, as they would with charcoal, wood or kerosene.
During the visit, Mr. Regan acknowledged the importance of enabling access to sustainable energy. “Access to clean and affordable energy is essential for economic development, reducing poverty and mitigating the effects of climate change,” said Administrator Regan. “Cleaner cooking solutions are not just better for the environment; they are also better for your health.”
Commenting on the company’s commitment to enabling clean cooking, Mr. Zwelithini Mlotshwa, General Manager-Puma Energy Ghana said: “LPG is a safe, convenient and cost-effective way to energise our communities; to enable cleaner cooking and reduce the negative impacts of burning traditional cooking fuels. Beyond domestic use, LPG is a vital energy source for commercial and industrial applications, including in hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools and shopping malls”.
U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. ” It’s essential to invest in clean cooking solutions. Working together with government entities and stakeholders, we can create positive change and improve the Ghanaian people’s lives and health,” Ambassador Palmer said.
Puma Energy’s LPG bottling plant located in Tema is a US$6million, state-of-the-art facility with capacity to deliver 1,200 cylinders of various sizes per hour. It adheres to strict health and safety standards, ensuring the production of high-quality LPG for domestic and commercial use. The plant will enable the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) initiative’s roll-out, in line with government’s agenda to encourage the use of LPG and attain a penetration target of 50% by 2030; ensure safety and accessibility; and improve energy efficiency.
Puma Energy Ghana’s LPG offering complements the solarisation of 10 retail sites and roll-out of solar energy offerings to industrial and commercial customers. It is also developing its LNG business in Ghana.
