Ghana and India Seek Solutions for Propane Shortage

A crowd in Mussoorie, India, waiting for a delivery of propane cylinders. (image: travelpod.com)

With LPG shortages being felt in many parts of the world, many governments have been forced to implement various tactics to try to alleviate the problem. Not only is propane a common home heating fuel, in many places it’s better known as cooking gas and serves as a vital fuel for many everyday appliances.

In India, officials are weighing a policy that would limit the amount of subsidized domestic LPG cylinders a household can receive to 4-6 per year. Since each government-issued 14.2-kg propane canister lasts the typical New Delhi household around 45-60 days, the Task Force on Direct Transfer of Subsidies on Kerosene, LPG and Fertilizer estimated that six cylinders should be sufficient to last the year. Before making the policy official, the Task Force is launching a pilot project to test the plan in seven states of India. Officials stipulate that only those who own a car, house, two-wheeler, or qualify on an established income-tax list will be eligible for the program.

In Ghana, leaders have long encouraged residents to use propane instead of biomass or kerosene to cut down on destructive deforestation. However, frequent shortages are causing many Ghanans to hesitate making the switch. So, members of the Ghana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Operators Association (GPLGOA) have vowed to work with state agencies to come up with a specific plan for making propane more accessible. The announcement came at the end of a five-day training program in Tema where GPLGOA members were educated on effective propane advocacy techniques.

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