Puma Energy Ghana, a leading energy solutions provider, is demonstrating its commitment to energizing communities by engaging women, food vendors, hawkers in the bustling markets where they gather to trade.
Their purpose, to educate them on the safe handling and usage of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), complementing government efforts to raise awareness of the cylinder recirculation model (CRM) and the health and safety benefits of using LPG.
The first of the planned community awareness raising events was held recently at the busy Madina Lorry Park (Koforidua Station).
The event included the distribution of leaflets and an interactive question-and-answer session with over 350 market women and some commercial drivers to address benefits and queries about the safety and benefits of LPG as an alternative to traditional cooking fuels.
Key food vendors in the market were identified and rewarded with cooking stoves aimed to improve their businesses while others were rewarded with gas lighters, aprons, T-shirts and tablecloths as part of the exercise.
The Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), an LPG distribution system, is an initiative of the National Petroleum Authority and the Ministry of Energy, which sees empty LPG cylinders exchanged for filled cylinders at authorized distribution centres. Its intention is to make the transition from harmful means of cooking to LPG easier and more convenient.
The Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) initiative in line with the Ghanaian government’s agenda to encourage the use of LPG to attain a penetration target of 50% by 2030, ensure safety, and accessibility, and improve energy efficiency.
Speaking on behalf of Samba Diop, newly appointed General Manager for Puma Energy Ghana, Benard Ohene Amoah, LPG Manager for Puma Energy Ghana, added, “Safety is more than a priority in our operations in Ghana, it’s a core value that is an integral part of our business.
We are committed to safeguarding the safety of all our stakeholders that interact with our operations. We are also dedicated to supporting government efforts to increase the penetration of LPG as a cleaner cooking fuel to improve health and environmental outcomes for communities.”
Puma Energy Ghana’s market engagements seek to equip consumers with the right information needed for a healthier environment. “The markets are hives of activity. Crowded, bustling, busy, it is here that we can reach our communities, equipping them with the knowledge and skills on safety to help reduce risk and switch to cleaner cooking fuels,” added Steveria Kadangwe, Deputy General Manager, Puma Energy Ghana.
While taking them through the exchange process, the market women and patrons were also able to exchange their old cylinders for new ones as they would do at an official exchange centre. About 100 new cylinders were exchanged at Madina Lorry Park, proving CRM as an effective and dependable means of obtaining new cylinders.
The market engagements are expected to continue at other major market centres across the country with the next events planned for October and December respectively.
Puma Energy Ghana remains committed to support initiatives that promote the safe and responsible use of LPG to energise communities, reduce environmental impact and support the energy transition.
With over 35 retail outlets and 16 community exchange centres, Puma Energy Ghana is set to distribute over 20,000 filled cylinders by the end of 2024. The collaborative efforts of Ghana’s LPG industry are poised to usher in a new era of safety, accessibility, and sustainability.
