World LP Gas Association

 

2007 World LP Gas Forum - Cape Town
"LP Gas - Fuelling Life"  24 - 26 October 2007

More than 450 delegates from 54 countries across the globe came together to learn, share experience and network in Cape Town, South Africa for the 20th World LP Gas Forum 2007 - the Premium event for the LP Gas industry world wide. This year, an additional day was also devoted to LP Gas for Development focusing on African LP Gas supply and demand, how LP Gas can improve women’s lives and the role it can play in reducing indoor air pollution and associated ill health.

Outstanding keynote addresses were delivered by

• Ms. Buyelwa Sonjica, Minister of Minerals & Energy, South Africa, who spoke on the importance of energy in African development and
• Mr P. Raghavendran, President, Refinery Business, Reliance Industries Limited, India who shared his market perspective from another developing country, India.
• Mr. Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman, Mvelaphanda Group Limited, South Africa and one of the forerunners in the upcoming South African Presidential race painted a very positive picture of Africa in the 21st century. According to him, LP Gas is the "convenient truth" and the ideal fuel for many in Africa today.

Sessions Summary

Opening sessions focused on how LP Gas could fuel development in Africa.

Session A: "LP Gas - Fuelling Life in Africa"

Chaired by Philip Dobie, Director, UNDP/UNEP Poverty-Environment Facility, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The panel spoke about the following issues:  

• Boubacar Barry, Totalgaz, outlined current and future supply and demand for LP Gas in Africa.

• Brenda Doroski, Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, explained how a switch to LP Gas could help combat indoor air pollution. More than 1.6 million people die each year from respiratory disease - a move to LP Gas could dramatically cut this figure.
• Wendy Annecke, Gender and Energy Research and Training, delivered a paper on the contribution LP Gas can make to improve the lives of women in Africa. According to Ms. Annecke, one of the main benefits of LP Gas is that it frees women from the responsibility of collecting firewood. In this way, women would have more time to spend on childcare and education, paid work, or even leisure.
• Dr Philip Lloyd from the University of Cape Town gave a presentation on how LP Gas is a safe, efficient fuel for Africa. In particular, he highlighted how LP Gas is a much safer alternative to paraffin, which regularly causes fires in townships across South Africa.

Session B: "Putting Ideas to Work - Lessons from Africa"

Chaired by Erwin Friederich, Vice President, Shell Gas (LPG), UK

The panel delivered a series of case studies on what works and some lessons learned on a variety of LP Gas related projects:

• Rachid Idrissi, Afriquiagaz explained how Microfinance helped bring clean, modern LP Gas to small businesses in Morocco. The initiative enabled agri-tourism schemes and artisan craftspeople to purchase LP Gas and equipment which made a positive difference to their businesses.
• Kwame Asubonteng, UNDP, delivered a presentation on public private partnerships and how they have worked in Africa.
• Erik Charras, VidaGas, shared his experience of setting up an LP Gas distribution company in Mozambique. He established VidaGas in order to ensure a clean, reliable energy source to provide light and refrigeration for health clinics across the countryside.
• Anthony Leon, BP, gave an insightful presentation on successful African distribution strategies.

Roundable: "Unleashing the Power of LP Gas"

Chaired by Kimball Chen, Energy Transportation Group

Panelists included

• Elizabeth Marabwa, Petroleum Policy Director, Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) SA,
• Mourad Belguedj, The World Bank,
• Erwin Friederich, VP Shell Gas (LPG), UK,
• Hugo de Meyer, Totalgaz, South Africa
• Philip Dobie, UNDP.

Issues addressed included: 

• The importance of governmental energy policy and regulatory framework, as well as overall security. These are all significant factors considered by any company considering an investment in a new country.
• Developing a product which meets the demand and habits of the local population. For example, Totalgaz created a multipurpose tool which can be used for cooking, lighting and heating.
• Putting the infrastructure in place to ensure reliable supply and economies of scale. Without this infrastructure, suppliers don't have access to the marketplace, which in turn means there is no real competition. As a result, the price remains prohibitively high for many.
• Barriers to the availability of LP Gas in South Africa, which are also opportunities for the industry. These include, price and infrastructure, security of supply, as well as the establishment of supportive industry for the manufacture of gas cylinders and appliances in South Africa..

Special News

• Scholastica Kimaryo, the Resident Representative of UNDP activities in South Africa wrapped up proceedings by announcing the establishment of a new LP Gas investment facility in South Africa. The facility should reduce risk to investors and provide seed capital to encourage local entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to:

·        focus on market development,

·        remove obstacles to market investment and

·        encourage investment for local development

 

• WLPGA made a donation of 25,000 Rand to the Sizanani Community Development Project

Wide Range of Topics covered

 

Over the course of 3 days, 35 presentations and 2 roundtable discussions covered a wide range of topics. In addition to the sessions on LP Gas for Development, leading experts also spoke on:

• The global and regional outlook for LP Gas
• New prospects and growth opportunities
• New product development & innovation
• Good practices for sustainable growth and
• Fueling clean cities

Exhibitors from across the globe

The World LP Gas Forum is the only truly global LP Gas industry conference and exhibitors came from far and wide to demonstrate their products and services to global industry leaders. A number of exhibitors said they were hoping to use the exhibition to springboard into the local African markets.

 

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