The first-ever hybrid LPG week 2021 which took place in Dubai from 5th – 9th December 2021, was a remarkable success. The platform welcomed almost 2,000 attendees onsite and online under the theme ‘’Energising Tomorrow’’. The World LPG Association (WLPGA), founded in 1987, represents the full value chain of LPG worldwide. It has also consistently hosted LPG week annually across the globe, bringing together CEOs of major LPG companies, government ministers and other representatives of major intergovernmental organisations and media. This is done with the major aim of fostering LPG business connections, discussing the potential growth of the industry and forging new business relationships. The World LPG Association (WLPGA) holds an annual Global Technology Conference (GTC) where the best are selected by a steering committee from around the world creating new opportunities for innovative companies in the LPG industry on a global platform. The World LPG Challenge takes place to challenge and find new solutions to LPG problems, foster business growth and relationships, with the grand winner taking home the cash prize of $10,000.
Present at the LPG week ‘21 was the Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who delivered the keynote address at the forum. The Vice-President in his speech expressed that this year’s impressive turnout speaks to the collective desire to exchange innovative ideas on the future of the LPG business and discuss the growth, potential and all that it offers for clean energy transitions and equitable development. He further stated that for developing countries, unlike the rest of the world, the transition to net-zero emissions poses two existential crises. Aside from the climate crisis according to him, developing countries have the problem of lifting millions out of extreme poverty and access to energy is a huge part of that. Going further in his speech he identified also that 2.6 million people globally are without access to clean cooking solutions leading to millions of death from these unclean and unsafe cooking solutions.
There is an urgent need to transition from these fatally hazardous fuels to cleaner energy. This is where LPG and LNG come into play as they are well proven to be healthier alternatives which Nigeria has adopted and implemented via clean cooking models across the country. The Vice-President categorically stated LPG remains an ideal fuel to support the journey to renewables if we accept it as a destination fuel. The Nigerian target for LPG consumption and fostering zero-carbon emissions requires about 5 million metric tonnes and $6 billion for the necessary LPG infrastructure across the country. The federal government of Nigeria is ready to welcome investors to partner with the country to bring LPG to all Nigerians.
The World LPG Challenge ‘21 is a start-up competition launched by the WLPGA to find fresh solutions to challenges facing the LPG industry. Doowe Gas was a selected finalist and the only Nigerian company represented at the exhibition stands during the World LPG Week in Dubai 2021. Mr James Atiti, CEO and co-founder of Doowe Gas represented the company and delivered a paper on ‘’Cooking with wood? The compelling case for LPG’’ in the main plenary, before a live audience of hundreds of delegates. All finalists were able to present their chosen topic with precise clarity and boldness which made the challenge a very impressive one. The Nigerian representative, Doowegas, won the overall 3rd prize and it was indeed a proud moment to represent the country on a global platform.
LPG week for 2022 will take place at New Delhi, India from the 5th to the 9th of December 2022 and will prove to be just as impressive.
