MD of KAD Energy Limited, Ifunanya Oti (2nd left); Executive Secretary of WIEN, Engr Asanimo Omezi; MD of Smart Gas Limited, Mrs Yinka Opeke; President of WIEN, Mrs Eyono Fatai-Williams; and Publicity Director of WIEN, Mrs Onyema Obi; pose with some staff members of Smart Gas Limited during the partnership agreement between WIEN and Smart Gas Limited in Lagos.
Smart Gas, a pioneer private sector promoter of LPG penetration in rural and underserved communities, and frontline gender equity advocate in Nigeria, the Women in Energy Network (WIEN), have reached a partnership to deepen cleaner energy accessibility in underserved communities in Nigeria.
Under this partnership, they will leverage the already robust campaign strategies of WIEN and Smart Gas’s innovative outreaches in LPG penetration in Lagos State and FCT to drive this cooking gas penetration programme and break the entry barriers that impede access to cleaner fuels in rural homes.
The collaboration will optimize the already running gas cylinder distribution promoted by Smart Gas to enhance its advocacy for cleaner home fuels and free the hands of women and girls in the country for more productive ventures.
Both parties in the arrangement will jointly pursue collaboration with sponsors to provide about 100,000 free prefilled cooking gas cylinders annually for distribution to poor families and assist them switch from the use of dirty kitchen fuels to cleaner, environmentally friendly and healthier use of LPG.
It will focus on expanding the distribution network of LPG in areas that have traditionally relied on conventional less efficient and more harmful energy sources such as firewood, kerosene, and charcoal. These conventional methods of cooking are not only harmful to health but also contribute significantly to environmental degradation. And by providing a cleaner alternative, this partnership aims to reduce the health hazards associated with indoor air pollution while promoting environmental sustainability.
WIEN President, Mrs. Eyono Fatai-Williams, declares: “Energy accessibility is a fundamental right, and through this partnership, we aim to ensure that more households in underserved communities have access to clean, affordable, and safe cooking energy. The use of LPG will not only improve the quality of life but also empower women by reducing the time and energy spent on traditional cooking methods.”
To ensure the widespread adoption of LPG, Smart Gas will collaborate with WIEN to strengthen its multi-pronged strategy that relieves the rural and underprivileged families of the initial cost burden of switching to use of LPG. This entails that both parties will team up in the campaign for LPG penetration and explore sponsorship for free cylinder distribution.
Managing Director of Smart Gas, Dr. Yinka Opeke, outlines the economic and commercial benefits associated with the programme to include enhanced and deepened demand for LPG to create additional market and commercial incentive for investments in production, trade and retail of the product.
She states: “Affordability of these cylinders is a major challenge for our target audience, however, once we are able to cover that initial cost, refills are more affordable. This increases the demand for gas in those localities, opening up opportunities for private sector investments in gas plants, retailers’ locations and accessory shops.”
She further clarified that their 3kg and 6kg sizes will target households while their bigger sizes would target roadside food sellers using firewood to cook. The collaboration also commits to roll out community-based orientation programs to teach residents the safe handling and use of LPG, including basic safety measures, and knowing what to do in the event of a gas leak. The campaign will also inform communities about the health and environmental benefits of switching to LPG.
In promoting public-private partnerships in the national agenda on LPG penetration, the partnership will also seek to collaborate with the Federal Government, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, State and Local Governments, Industry Players, Non-Governmental Organizations, and other stakeholders in mobilizing the necessary resources and ensuring that LPG access reaches the most remote areas.
Far-reaching impacts of the collaboration include significant reduction in respiratory diseases from indoor air pollution caused by dirty traditional cooking fuels, and save significant number of women and children in low-income households from early deaths each year.
The collaboration also aims to enhance Smart Gas’s scheme to allow women engage in other productive activities, including education, entrepreneurship, and family care by relieving them of the drudgery of gathering firewood and difficult cooking methods.
The widespread use of LPG is also expected to curb deforestation and the environmental impact caused by the overuse of firewood. By reducing the reliance on traditional fuels, the initiative will contribute to efforts aimed at tackling climate change and conserving natural resources.
By promoting LPG use, the initiative will create new business opportunities within the local communities. The expansion of LPG distribution networks will lead to job creation in areas such as sales, cylinder refilling, and distribution, thereby stimulating local economies.
The partnership between Smart Gas and WIEN projects a model for organizations and governments seeking collaboration to improve energy access while promoting environmental sustainability.
The Smart Gas-WIEN collaboration is therefore not just about providing clean cooking energy; it’s about improving lives, fostering economic development, and creating a safer and more sustainable future for underserved communities across Nigeria. Thus, WIEN and Smart Gas, through this collaboration, are paving the way for an energy revolution that will positively transform the lives of millions in Nigeria.
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