The critical role of LPG, particularly in the developing world, was highlighted at e-LPG Week, a week-long virtual event organised by the World LPG Association
The event, hosted by ENOC Group, takes place from 2-6 November 2020, providing a platform for industry experts and leaders to discuss the issues facing the LPG industry, and the pathways for the future.
Burhan Al Hashemi gave the welcome address, on behalf of H.E. Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC. He said, “We are going through a tough period with the impact of COVID-19 and the drop in oil prices. It is important to maintain a mindset that can turn challenges into opportunities and evaluate how we can do things differently to sustain growth,” he said. “With relatively low investment, universal access to clean cooking solutions LPG can enhance lifestyle and protect the environment. This is not just the case in developing economies – millions in the developed economies still have poor access to energy to power their homes. It is our social and moral responsibility to ensure that these populations are not left behind in our future energy transition. We need to maintain an open mindset to zero-carbon energy right from production to consumption.”
In a keynote address, Marcela Rosada Orellana, Ultragaz, highlighted the versatility of LPG, which can be used in various applications from cooking to agriculture.
“In spite of the technological revolution in new energy sources, LPG still plays an important role in society. It is important we work closely with governments to ensure that the LPG is included in the agenda for cleaner energy in the same way they promote policies for natural gas. In this context, our energy has great potential to evolve, for example in obtaining LPG through renewable sources.”
Innovations including new LPG applications, automation and process monitoring are helping to drive quality and efficiency and reduce environment impacts, she said.
The involvement of young people and women is vital to empower the future of the industry, she added. “The LPG sector will gain a lot from the increase in diversity in the world’s agenda.” She foresaw a “promising future” for the industry.
Commenting on the critical role of LPG in industry, transportation and households across the world, Dr. Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said, “To date around 2.6 billion people, have no access to clean cooking. They are using coal, kerosene, agricultural waste, animal waste in certain cases, for cooking. And this is one of the top three reasons, according to a study we carried out with the World Health Organization (WHO), for premature deaths around the world because of the respiratory diseases that it causes, and LPG can be a very important option to address this problem.” LPG not only improves air quality but also lowers global carbon emissions, stops increasing deforestation and improves the lives of women and children, he said.
Birol discussed how the LPG community can do more in terms of increasing the availability of renewable LPG, and suggested that BioLPG could play a greater role in the years to come.
Mr. Shikrant Madhav Vaidya, chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), spoke about the success of the Ujjwala programme, which provides free LPG cylinders to needy families.
“During the pandemic, the scheme has been invaluable in giving relief to vulnerable sections of society through national lockdown,” he said.
