Global advocacy body, the World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA), has revealed that women and girls in Africa lose up to five hours every day collecting fuel for cooking purposes. This time burden limits education, job opportunities and the ability to start businesses, keeping many trapped in cycles of poverty.

Speaking at the yearly Central Africa LPG Expo, representatives from the WLGA said the rollout of clean cooking solutions, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), could transform the lives of millions of women and girls across the continent.

The event, held under the patronage of Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, brought together hundreds of industry representatives to discuss ways to speed up access to LPG in Cameroon and other Central African markets. The Prime Minister was represented by Minister of Water Resources and Energy Eloundou Essomba.

During the Cooking For Life Africa Workshop, Dr Ngute and fellow delegates agreed that better infrastructure, strict enforcement of safety regulations and education on the safe use of LPG are critical for market growth.

The event also marked the launch of the Women in LPG (WINLPG) Cameroon National Chapter, under the patronage of Promotion of Women and the Family Minister Professor Abena Ondoa. Cameroon becomes the fifteenth national chapter in the WINLPG global network, which works to increase women’s participation in the LPG sector and promote gender equality in energy access.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), four in five people in Africa, and 90% of schools, still rely on firewood or charcoal for cooking. In many rural areas, women and girls are responsible for collecting fuel. This often means walking long distances, carrying heavy loads, and breathing harmful smoke while cooking.

The IEA estimates that $4-billion of investment will be needed in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 to shift households and institutions away from harmful cooking methods. The African Development Bank has already pledged $200-million to boost clean cooking access, but much more funding and political will are required.

WLGA MD and CEO James Rockall said LPG is a portable, clean and efficient energy source that can give communities more independence. “We live in an increasingly unstable world caused by trade uncertainty and natural and humanitarian disasters. LPG offers a dependable and accessible fuel for communities across the Global South,” he said.

The health impact is also significant. Studies show that indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fuels can exceed World Health Organisation safety limits by up to five times. Prolonged exposure to smoke increases the risk of respiratory disease, heart disease and eye damage.

In Kenya, the CLEAN-Air (Africa) programme found dangerous pollution levels in all tested school kitchens using wood or charcoal. The Equity Group Foundation, together with the Kenyan government, is now working to convert all schools to LPG, offering loans to cover the costs with repayment over five years.

Cameroon Water Resources and Energy Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba said LPG is already playing an important role in the country’s energy landscape. “LPG supports economic growth, environmental sustainability and public health improvement. Over the years, our LPG market has made remarkable progress, driven by ambitious government policy, increasing investment, and growing consumer demand.”

The WLGA stressed that accelerating the adoption of LPG is important for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7, which is universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030. This shift would not only improve quality of life for women and girls, but also stimulate energy infrastructure investment, create jobs and reduce deforestation.