LIQUEFIED petroleum gas (LPG) is said to be an efficient source of energy and the government has been advocating switching to it from electricity. But in the past few days gas users have gone through the frustration of gas unavailability, at a time when temperatures have dropped significantly.
According to the government and gas suppliers, the cold weather has led to higher demand for gas and the supply has run out. Gas sales typically peak in winter.
For the government, the increase is not necessarily a bad thing, as the Department of Energy’s deputy director-general of hydrocarbons and energy planning, Tseliso Maqubela, said this week.
It means more people are using gas instead of electricity, and that augurs well for efforts to curb power consumption. The department encourages residential consumers to use LPG for heating and cooking.
But this surge, especially in winter months, leaves the government and the energy industry with a big task — how is this demand going to be met? It is well and good to push consumers to use gas, but that drive is pointless if they are not going to find it, as is the case now.
As suggested in article above, it is quite clear that gas supplies will continue to remain tight, chiefly due to efforts by regional government to curb power consumption as well as encourage consumers to use LPG. This state of affairs not only lead to increased demand and imports, but also greater LPG production in the African continent, with PetroSA increasing its’ production and even in Angola and Nigeria.
It is therefore apt that the 6th LPG Trade Summit to be held in Istanbul’s Hilton Hotel, on 31 October – 2 November, presents informed insights on the LPG economy in Africa with specific topics focusing on the region. This summit will among others, feature presentations on the current status of the LPG sector; the impact on competitiveness of the regulatory and policy frameworks; future local production, plus imports and demand scenarios. Speakers from across the LPG value-chain will also be unveiling opportunities and challenges confronting this exciting sector.
If you want to have the latest market updates or meet with the movers and shakers of the LPG industry, then this is your must attend global event.
For more information on other topics and speakers line-up, please click here.
