Many households are turning to charcoal as a more affordable cooking alternative as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices continue to soar in the country.
LPG prices have been gradually increasing in recent months, affecting various cylinder sizes. A 6 kg cylinder that was previously sold for GHC 60 now costs over GHC 100, while the 15 kg cylinder has risen from GHC 200 to more than GHC 245.
In a hotline documentary dubbed “Gas to Charcoal” by JoyNews, residents of Dromankese in the Nkronza North District indicate that it is more economically beneficial to use charcoal than LPG.
Evans Ohenegyan, presiding member of the district, in his analysis, notes that GHC 50 worth of charcoal could last for a month, whereas spending GHC 220 to purchase LPG lasts a month as well. “The LPG I use, anytime I go and fill, I spend GHC 220 before I am able to fill it. But the charcoal, right now, is GHC 50 here. I can use it for three weeks or sometimes one month. So you compare the two, and you will see that the gas is very expensive.”
The spokesperson for the drivers’ association within the charcoal distribution chain, Kamal, said, “We need Ghana to boost the charcoal business. If they collapse this business, we would die of hunger. They purchase the charcoal.”
The same can be said for food vendors in Tamale, who are alternating between charcoal and gas usage to cut down on costs, as charcoal is more affordable. “Every day, it (LPG) is increasing. When we bought GHC 200 last year, we could use it for one week, but currently, you can fill it for GHC 300, and in three days, it will get finished. So that forces us to use firewood and charcoal,” a vendor said.
It is believed that the price of LPG is skyrocketing due to a fall in the supply of the product. However, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has issued assurances that there is adequate LPG available to meet national demand.
In recent weeks, the Western and parts of the Central Region have experienced disruptions in LPG supply due to a power challenge at the Ghana National Gas Processing Plant in Atuabo. This issue impacted the processing of natural gas, which is the primary source of LPG in the country. Consequently, the NPA directed LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to source LPG from Tema to serve their retail outlets in these affected areas.
As of October 9, 2024, the NPA confirmed that the opening stock of LPG was sufficient to last nearly two weeks of national consumption. Additionally, the Sentuo Oil Refinery has been consistently producing LPG to support the market’s daily needs.
Ghana is set to receive more than 20,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) between October 21 and 27.
This shift from LPG to charcoal poses significant challenges to the country’s climate goals, as the increased reliance on charcoal exacerbates deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Burning charcoal and firewood releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. Inhaling smoke from burning charcoal and firewood can cause respiratory diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).
The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has sounded the alarm over a recent surge in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, warning it could undermine progress in adopting cleaner energy within the transport sector.
Ghana is actively pursuing a transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources. The country is already engaged in significant initiatives aimed at achieving this transition, which includes a target of integrating 10% of renewable energy into its energy mix by 2030 and the development of an energy transition framework.
The government has supported the distribution of over 1.5 million improved biomass cookstoves since 2021 and is currently supporting the distribution of another 500,000 biomass-improved cookstoves.
Parliament in September approved a $250 million loan agreement to fund Ghana’s Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP). The loan, secured from the International Development Association of the World Bank Group, aims to reduce electricity purchase costs, boost revenue collection for distribution utilities, and enhance the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)’s financial management.
It will also support the National Liquefied Petroleum Gas Promotion Programme (LPGPP), which aims to achieve a 50% LPG access goal by 2030. The agreement, initially rejected on July 30 due to concerns that $90 million was allocated for consultancy, was revisited after further scrutiny. Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin referred the matter to the Finance Committee for additional review.
In African countries such as Mozambique, Uganda, Mali, Zambia and Congo DRC, charcoal usage is more common than gas.
The United Nations under its Sustainable Development Goal 7 seeks to ensure that by 2030, there is universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
