2.3 billion people worldwide still lack access to clean cooking, relying on polluting fuels like wood, charcoal and animal dung.
These fuels are typically burned on open fires or basic stoves, producing toxic smoke that leads to an estimated 3.7 million premature deaths every year from household air pollution, a health crisis that disproportionately affects women and children. But this burden is not inevitable.
Since 2010, Asia and Latin America have enabled 700 million people to switch to modern cooking methods, with 70% using LPG.
A roadmap from the International Energy Agency (IEA) offers a realistic, cost-effective strategy to eradicate this major source of energy poverty and human suffering across sub-Saharan Africa by 2040. The roadmap shows that universal access to clean cooking is achievable within 15 years if African countries adopt proven strategies already implemented across other regions.
Approximately 1 billion of the 2.3 billion people globally without access to clean cooking are in Africa. LPG is a critical part of the solution. Since 2010, LPG has helped provide clean cooking access to over 1 billion people. Based on our analysis, we see another billion people gaining access to clean cooking thanks to LPG in a pathway that provides universal access to clean cooking globally by the end of the decade. LPG is a proven, scalable solution that can rapidly reach these people, and we need to continue our efforts.”
Daniel Wetzel, Head of the Tracking Sustainable Transitions Unit, IEA
Share of sub-Saharan Africa population gaining access to clean cooking by solution through 2040.
Source: IEA
LPG & clean cooking
LPG is non-toxic, efficient and already widely used for heating, cooking and transport.
Reducing Emissions
LPG emits ~80% less CO₂ than firewood. Following the IEA’s global clean cooking vision would cut 1.5 gigatons of CO₂-equivalent emissions by 2030, the same as the entire aviation and shipping sectors emit annually combined. Switching from firewood to LPG can cut CO₂ emissions by 170-415 million tonnes p.a., equivalent to the total emissions of the Netherlands or the UK.
Preventing Deforestation
Each 13 kg LPG cylinder used prevents the destruction of ~6 m² of forest. At scale, switching to LPG could help prevent the annual loss of forests the size of Ireland, conserving critical ecosystems and protecting food sources like fruit-bearing trees often cut for fuel. Transitioning 268 million households to LPG could prevent up to 2 million hectares of deforestation p.a., or 40% of global net deforestation.
Improving Health
A lack of clean cooking contributes to 3.7 million premature deaths p.a., with women and children most at risk. The World
Health Organization recommends expanding access to clean fuels, including LPG, to reduce household air pollution and
protect health.
Efficiency
LPG transfers up to 60% of its energy to the cooking pot, 4x more efficiently than firewood.
Portability
LPG is highly portable, making it one of the most practical energy solutions. It can be stored, transported and used in cylinders of different sizes or in bulk tanks for larger users. LPG’s flexibility means it can reach remote areas, providing households, businesses and communities with reliable access to modern energy for a wide range of applications.
Gender Inequality
Women and girls often spend 18 hours per week, collecting fuel and cooking, limiting opportunities for education, employment and rest. In many regions, women also face increased risks of violence while collecting fuel far from home.
Spotlight – Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region that has seen an increase in population without access to clean cooking since 2010.
Africa suffers from the highest HAP-related mortality rate…
Deaths from household air pollution per 100,000 people, 2021
…where it is the 2nd leading cause of premature deaths amongst women and children
Annual deaths by cause amongst women and children
Clean cooking access in Africa has increased, but less than biomass…
Change in population primarily cooking by fuel, 2015-2022
…and has been more than offset by African population growth the past decade
Access rate and population without access to clean cooking by region, 2010-2022
Fleet operations
We operate one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in two of the shipping industry’s most environmentally progressive segments. Since 2020, we have invested approximately $1.3 billion in cleaner alternative fuel technologies, energy-saving innovations and the construction of new ultra-efficient vessels.
Petredec remains committed to owning the youngest, cleanest fleet of ships and trucks, and to investing in lower-emission transport solutions and renewable energy sources for its terminals wherever possible.
Decarbonisation – Ships
Fleetwide sustainability measures & initiatives
In 2025, over USD 5.4 million was invested in environmental upgrades across the fleet, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency and emissions performance.
Key initiatives included:
Low-Carbon propulsion
and fuel transition
- Operated LPG dual-fuel VLGCs, reducing carbon intensity vs conventional fuels.
- Increased LPG utilisation across dual-fuel vessels.
- Evaluated alternative fuels (biofuels and future zero/near-zero options).
- Aligned with International Maritime Organization (IMO) greenhouse gas (GHG) pathways and future fuel readiness.
Energy efficiency and
technical upgrades
- Applied silicone hull coatings and propeller optimisation.
- Installed VFDs on auxiliary systems to improve efficiency.
- Maximised shaft generator utilisation to reduce engine load.
- Upgraded to LED lighting and auxiliary systems.
- Conducted fuel additive trials (e.g. Sulnox) to improve efficiency.
Digital monitoring and
performance optimisation
- Implemented voyage and weather routing optimisation.
- Deployed engine monitoring and analytics tools.
- Improved cargo plant and machinery monitoring.
- Strengthened emissions monitoring and ESG reporting systems.
Emerging
decarbonisation
technologies
- Evaluated waste heat recovery solutions (e.g. ORC/steam expanders).
- Assessed wind-assisted propulsion technologies.
- Reviewed air lubrication and energy-saving technologies.
- Continued evaluation of retrofit opportunities.
Onshore operations
Petredec is committed to advancing sustainability across its onshore operations through targeted initiatives that drive efficiency, reduce emissions and protect natural ecosystems. A cornerstone of this effort is our ambition to reduce overall energy consumption by 10%, an objective we aim to achieve through optimisation of existing equipment and processes. This includes the introduction of auto-shutoff functions and timers on electrical equipment wherever feasible, ensuring energy is only used when needed and helping to cut unnecessary consumption.
