Gambia Signs Contracts For Supply Of 7,800 LPG Cylinders To Households

The Gambia has signed two contracts for the supply and distribution of 7,800 filled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to selected households across the country, as part of efforts to promote cleaner cooking fuels.

The contracts were signed on Monday, November 2, by the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines (MoPEM) under the ECOWAS LPG 20/20 Initiative, which is funded by a $300,000 grant from the ECOWAS Commission.

Under the agreements, the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the project’s implementing agency, will work with two suppliers. Star Oil Gambia Limited will provide 2,600 cylinders, while Njegan Brothers Gas Company Limited will supply 5,200.

The initiative will distribute 6-kg cylinders and accessories to selected households across all regions of the country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at Petroleum House, Minister for Petroleum, Energy and Mines Nani Juwara said the initiative would help improve household welfare, protect the environment and promote the adoption of modern cooking solutions.

Juwara said many households in the country continued to rely on traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal, contributing to indoor air pollution, environmental degradation and pressure on forest resources.

Women and children were particularly vulnerable to exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods, he said.

The project will also include public awareness campaigns on the benefits and safe use of LPG, as well as monitoring and impact assessments.

Permanent Secretary Abdoulie Jallow said the initiative would help address financial barriers preventing low-income households from adopting cleaner cooking technologies, particularly the upfront cost of purchasing cylinders and stoves.

Beneficiaries will be selected using established criteria and data from The Gambia’s Social Registry to ensure transparency and targeted distribution, the ministry said.

The project is expected to be implemented over four to five months following the signing of the contracts. A nationwide awareness campaign will also be conducted to promote the safe handling, storage and use of LPG.

The initiative forms part of broader regional efforts to expand access to cleaner cooking fuels and reduce reliance on traditional biomass fuels.