CITAC’s Participation in the ARDA LPG Forum

22nd-24th October 2024, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

CITAC is proud to announce its active involvement in ARDA’s inaugural LPG Forum, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 22nd to 24th October 2024. This pivotal event, under the theme “Revolutionizing LPG Adoption and Long-Term Sustainability as a Cleaner Cooking Alternative across Africa,” gathered prominent stakeholders in Africa’s LPG value chain, including regulators, project developers, and financiers, to foster collaboration aimed at significantly increasing LPG consumption across the continent.

The forum highlighted key issues such as creating an enabling environment for LPG market development, enhancing supply chains, ensuring affordability and accessibility, and the critical role of LPG in Africa’s energy transition.

On 22nd October 2024, James McCullagh, CITAC Executive Director, joined distinguished panelists Sasha Foss (S&P Global), Inès Ahouré (Petro Ivoire), and Kimball Chen (The Global LPG Partnership) in Session 3: Role of LPG in Delivering Africa’s Energy Transition. During this session, James shared his expertise on the potential of LPG to support Africa’s move towards cleaner energy sources. His insights focused on the role LPG plays in reducing reliance on traditional fuels like charcoal and kerosene, and how it can be a key component in Africa’s broader strategy for achieving sustainable energy transitions. He emphasized the importance of regulatory frameworks and investment in infrastructure to support long-term adoption of LPG as a cleaner alternative for households and industries across the continent.

On 23rd October 2024, Gary Still, CITAC Managing Director, contributed to two critical sessions that highlighted practical case studies from across Africa. In Session 6: LPG Case Studies: West & Central Africa, Gary joined Claire-Édith Lopoh (Petroci) and Alex Evans (Global LPG Partnership) to discuss successful LPG initiatives in the region. He emphasized how targeted investments and innovative distribution models have enabled broader access to LPG, showcasing CITAC’s role in promoting best practices and supporting sustainable growth in these regions.

Later, in Session 7: LPG Case Studies: East & Southern Africa, Gary, along with industry experts such as Philippe Hoeblich (PayGas) and Rocio Perez-Ochoa (Bidhaa Sasa), provided key insights into the challenges and opportunities unique to these regions. He outlined strategies for expanding LPG infrastructure, particularly focusing on last-mile distribution and affordable access for rural populations.

In a highly anticipated Session 8: LPG Supply Chain and Infrastructure Development (Fireside Chat), James McCullagh, alongside Jean-Paul Parfait Kouamé (PETROIVOIRE), explored the logistics and infrastructure requirements for a robust LPG supply chain in Africa. This interactive discussion provided attendees with valuable insights into the complexities of developing efficient supply chains, overcoming infrastructural challenges, and ensuring scalability to meet the continent’s rising demand for LPG.

CITAC’s participation in these key sessions underscored its commitment to supporting the development of LPG markets across Africa and facilitating the continent’s transition to cleaner energy alternatives. Both James and Gary expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage with other industry leaders and thanked ARDA for organizing such a crucial event focused on Africa’s energy future. CITAC remains dedicated to contributing to Africa’s evolving energy landscape and looks forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders to drive forward sustainable energy solutions.

For more information on this event, please visit this website