Smart Gas,WIEN collaborate to bridge sustainability gap with cooking gas
MD of KAD Energy Limited, Ifunanya Oti (2nd left); Executive Secretary of WIEN, Engr Asanimo Omezi; MD of Smart Gas Limited, Mrs Yinka Opeke; President of WIEN, Mrs Eyono Fatai-Williams; and Publicity Director of WIEN, Mrs Onyema Obi; pose with some staff members of Smart Gas Limited during the partnership agreement between WIEN and Smart Gas Limited in Lagos.
Smart Gas Limited, a leading technology-based gas distribution company in Nigeria, is collaborating with the Women In Energy Network (WIEN), an association of women who play in the nation’s oil and gas industry, to accelerate the pace of the Federal Government initiative designed to ensure the penetration of cooking gas to the rural communities.
Recall that the Federal Government , recently, under the Decade of Gas Cooking Gas Outreach Program, commenced the distribution of cooking gas to rural women, targeting one million homes which serve as part of the promotion for energy transition and fight against climate change.
This effort, which includes the distribution of free gas cylinders to one million homes in the country, is designed to wean Nigerians from the continued use of firewood, cooking stoves and other harmful cooking fuels.
At a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, Smart Gas and WIEN used the occasion to sensitize Nigerians on the collaborative effort whose initial target is to supply gas cylinders to 100,000 homes. The cylinders will be filled with gas.
President of WIEN , Mrs Eyono Fatai-Williams, in her keynote address, said the initiative is part of the effort to support Nigeria’s fuel diversification strategy, adding that it is to deepen the penetration of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
She said that the Nigerian government has recognized the importance of diversifying its energy mix to ensure long-term economic stability, adding that “by promoting LPG as an alternative to firewood and coal, this initiative directly supports the federal government’s National Gas Expansion Program (NGEP), which aims to increase domestic LPG consumption and reduce reliance on kerosene and other polluting fuels.”
Some of the benefits of the initiative as outlined by the WIEN President include economic efficiency and cost savings; health benefits and aligning with public health goals; environmental sustainability in line with national targets; time-saving and boosting productivity; fuel diversification which drives economic growth; increasing energy accessibility for all Nigerians; enhancing energy safety and national standards and enhancing energy safety and national standards. Besides , the strategic fit with national development goals.
“LPG offers a more cost-effective and sustainable energy source for households compared to firewood, coal, and kerosene. It not only reduces household energy expenses in the long run but also helps the country reduce fuel importation costs.
“ The increased use of LPG mainly from local sources like the NLNG and other fractionation plants like NEDOGAS strengthens our economy by keeping energy-related funds circulating within Nigeria.
“One of the Nigerian government’s key goals is improving public health, particularly in underserved communities. Household air pollution from the use of firewood and coal is a major cause of respiratory diseases in Nigeria, especially among women and children.
“ The shift to LPG directly contributes to achieving the national health agenda by reducing the burden of respiratory illnesses and decreasing healthcare costs,” said Fatai-Williams.
On environment, she said that “LPG is a cleaner fuel compared to firewood, coal, and kerosene, and its increased adoption plays a critical role in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce environmental degradation.
“Deforestation caused by firewood collection, soil erosion, and harmful emissions can be minimized as more households transition to LPG, aligning with Nigeria’s commitments to combating climate change and preserving our ecosystems.”
Another benefit of LPG is that the switch saves time because collecting firewood is labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially for rural women. By making LPG widely available, “we are empowering households with more efficient cooking methods, allowing women and families to redirect their time to education, income-generating activities, and other productive endeavors. This is consistent with the government’s goals of improving productivity and human capital development.”
This initiative, as pointed by the WIEN President, will contribute significantly to economic diversification by creating a new value chain for LPG distribution and services. The distribution channel activies will stimulate local economies and create jobs, supporting the federal government’s drive to boost non-oil sectors of the economy.
Fatai-Williams said the initiative aligns with overnment’s energy policies which emphasize equitable energy access, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in the transition to cleaner fuels. According to her, “this program is a critical step towards fulfilling this vision by ensuring that even underserved and rural communities have access to safe, affordable, and modern energy sources like LPG. This aligns with the government’s commitment to reducing energy poverty.”
Also since safety is a top priority in Nigeria’s energy policies, “LPG is not only cleaner but also safer than traditional cooking methods when properly handled. Through this partnership, we aim to raise awareness on the proper use and safety of LPG, aligning with the government’s push for higher safety standards and regulations in energy use to protect citizens from accidents and hazards.”
The initiative fits well with National Development Goals. “We are aware that the government has in its programs partnered several industry investor and operating groups on gas penetration and fuel diversification; but we feel properly positioned as mothers and home managers to take effective roles in the prevailing programs to displace dirty fuels from Nigerian homes and improve the environment for the health and wellbeing of our children.
Hence, according to her “this partnership between WIEN and Smart Gas Limited perfectly aligns with the Nigerian government’s broader fuel diversification agenda and its goals for economic growth, environmental sustainability, and public health improvement. By deepening LPG penetration, we are supporting the country’s energy transition, creating jobs, improving lives, and protecting our environment. We are proud to contribute to a vision of a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous Nigeria.”
Answering questions from journalists , the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Gas limited , Dr Yinka Opeke, said the collaboration with WIEN is informed by the need to make cooking gas available to many homes in the rural communities.
Said Opeke , “Our Trash for Gas Campaign is dear to my heart because we recognize the significant challenges faced by low-income families in accessing clean cooking energy and the serious health risks of traditional cooking methods to individuals, particularly women and children, due to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Hence, we actively seek partnerships with federal government agencies, state governments, and private institutions. Collaboration is the key to success in tackling such complex challenges and we can leverage each other’s strengths and resources to create a transformative impact in the lives of millions of Nigerians.”
According to her, that “principles has been the driving force behind our success, and I am proud of the strides we have made towards aligning our goals with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 and SDG 13. It is my responsibility to ensure that we not only meet the demands of our stakeholders but also take proactive measures to mitigate climate change and foster a cleaner, greener future.
While speaking recently at the Community Town Hall, Zone A, Apo Resettlement in Abuja Opeke said, “Based on statistics, they say we are about 42 million homes in Nigeria and we have about 70 per cent living below the poverty line, so the idea of this is just to launch the initiative at the FCT which is very monumental for us. Hopefully we would replicate it to other States and it is to honestly just discourage people from using solid fuels like, firewood, charcoal, kerosene as it aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 7 and 13 which advocates for the use of cleaner energy’’.
