Onuesoke Urges Governors To Invest In LPG

Amidst a significant scarcity and price increase of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Chief Sunny Onuesoke, Chairman of DAS Energy Services Limited, has appealed to Nigerian state governors to prioritize investments in the production and distribution of LPG. Onuesoke emphasized that such investments are crucial for improving energy access, creating employment, and bolstering local economies.

Onuesoke noted that LPG prices have dramatically surged from approximately N1,100 per kilogram in early May to over N2,400 in many parts of the country. This sharp increase has compelled numerous households to abandon cooking gas and revert to using firewood and charcoal as more affordable alternatives. He expressed concern that this shift has serious consequences for climate change and environmental sustainability, as increased demand for firewood accelerates deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases.

"The shift from cooking gas to firewood and charcoal has serious consequences for climate change and environmental sustainability," Onuesoke stated. "Increased demand for firewood encourages tree felling and deforestation, which reduces the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."

He warned that if the high cost of cooking gas persists, environmental degradation and climate-related challenges could worsen. Onuesoke advised that state governments can play a pivotal role by encouraging LPG projects through the construction and provision of essential infrastructure such as storage facilities, bottling plants, and distribution networks, operating within the country's regulatory framework. He suggested mechanisms like leasing or outright sale of facilities to LPG retailers on a hire-purchase basis.

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The shift from cooking gas to firewood and charcoal has serious consequences for climate change and environmental sustainability. Increased demand for firewood encourages tree felling and deforestation, which reduces the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.