The government has announced its intention to distribute 8.5 million liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to low-income households at a cost of Ksh 2,000.
This initiative, a partnership between Kenya and Saudi Arabia, seeks to enhance access to clean cooking fuel for millions of citizens.
Gideon Leparan Ole Morintat, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), stated that this distribution initiative is an extension of the Mwananchi Gas Project.
The objective of this project is to increase the penetration of LPG from a mere 10 percent to an ambitious 70 percent within a three-year timeframe.
This initiative is supported by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, which will aid in the development of the necessary import infrastructure as part of the Oil Sustainability Programme.
The project aims to reduce deforestation by encouraging households to transition from biomass to cleaner energy alternatives.
The government’s plan includes raising the average per capita consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from 6.5 kilograms to 15 kilograms within the next three years.
Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria remarked on the significant increase in LPG adoption over the past decade, with an additional 10 million individuals now utilizing it as their primary cooking fuel.
Kuria also pointed out that efforts are underway to support over 4 million people who continue to depend on kerosene and charcoal, facilitating their transition to cleaner cooking options.
The energy strategy of Kenya aspires to establish the country as a clean energy hub, aiming for 50 percent of the population to adopt LPG solutions.
Despite the historically elevated prices of gas, there has been a marked increase in the demand for LPG in recent months.
The Bi-Annual Energy and Petroleum Report for the Financial Year 2023/2024, published by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), revealed an 8 percent increase in LPG consumption, amounting to 360,594 metric tonnes.
This growth has been linked to government measures, such as the elimination of VAT on LPG, which have rendered the fuel more accessible to the Kenyan populace.