Who dares wins: LPG, the next frontier for Africa’s downstream

What the report says

The Independent Uganda says liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, is emerging as a major downstream growth opportunity across Africa, with the author arguing that the region’s next energy investment wave should focus on clean cooking infrastructure rather than only refining. The piece is presented as a commentary by Anibor O Kragha and draws on remarks linked to the International Energy Agency’s clean cooking summit in Paris in May 2024, alongside data on the scale of cooking with firewood and charcoal across sub-Saharan Africa.

The article says LPG demand is rising quickly, but the supply chain remains thin. It cites limited storage, import capacity and distribution networks, and says many countries rely on spot cargoes and short-term supply arrangements. The author argues that investment is needed across terminals, gas processing, bottling plants, cylinders, inland logistics and last-mile delivery so households can access fuel more reliably and at lower cost.

The commentary also identifies potential investors and partners, including international traders, Gulf financiers, Chinese firms, African national oil companies and local marketers. It highlights several markets and corridors said to offer strong potential, including Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Angola, Kenya and Tanzania, as well as frontier markets such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. The article’s broader point is that clean cooking progress in Africa will depend on infrastructure, financing and coordinated regional planning, not just demand growth.