Energy Policy & Regulation

Despite significant progress in expanding access to clean cooking, nearly two billion people around the world still rely on polluting fuels, with Africa facing the brunt of this challenge. While over one billion people have recently gained access to cleaner alternatives—mainly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)—the African Energy Chamber (AEC) points out that clean cooking is more than just an energy issue. It directly affects public health, gender equity, and economic development, especially for women and children who bear the burden of traditional cooking methods. Solving this crisis requires infrastructure investment and strong global partnerships, including U.S. involvement.

At the upcoming Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM16) in Busan, South Korea, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will lead discussions on strategies to close the clean cooking gap. The DOE will focus on mobilising international financing, scaling proven technologies, and forming new alliances to speed up the deployment of clean cooking solutions. This initiative underscores the United States’ commitment to ensuring universal access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy, with a particular focus on underserved regions.

One of the central events at CEM16 will be the Minister-CEO roundtable titled “Fueling Life: Reliable Energy Access for All.” This session will explore key pathways to expand clean cooking access through financing, infrastructure development, and technological innovation. High-level participants include Michael Kelly of the World Liquid Gas Association, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly, and policymakers from South Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the European Commission, indicating strong international engagement.

Industry figures like NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, and Jonathan Fancher, CEO of Petredec Global, will also share their approaches to scaling clean cooking access. Ayuk stressed the need for partnership, saying the AEC is committed to collaborating with both the public and private sectors to boost LPG access and infrastructure across Africa. The event will serve as a platform to launch the new CEM Clean Cooking Initiative, titled “Fueling Lives: Affordable, Reliable, Healthy Cooking for All,” aimed at accelerating clean cooking adoption in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.