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Over the past five years, approximately 13 million people gained access to clean cooking annually in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by progress in West and East Africa. LPG accounted for 12 million of these gains each year, while another 1 million accessed other clean cooking solutions. Investment in the sector has reached approximately $500 million in 2025 so far, driven by disbursements from the pledges and targeted private-sector funding.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), achieving universal access to clean cooking in Africa will require $37 billion in cumulative investment by 2040, with LPG expected to supply 60% of the energy for newly connected households. As such, this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 event – set for September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town – will feature a panel discussion, From Firewood to Freedom: Promoting Clean Cooking in Africa, exploring practical solutions for accelerating access to LPG and other clean cooking fuels across the continent.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit https://aecweek.com for more information about this exciting event.

In July, the IEA released its Universal Access to Clean Cooking in Africa report, outlining a roadmap to achieve universal access across sub-Saharan Africa by 2040. The report estimates that with the $37 billion in cumulative investment, 80 million people could gain access to clean cooking fuels annually – seven times the current rate. This investment would support household equipment, distribution infrastructure and grid upgrades, while creating an estimated 460,000 jobs by 2040.

Meanwhile, pan-African finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB) recently approved a financing package to bolster energy access and cleak cooking solutions across East Africa, targeting Tanzania and Rwanda. The Tanzanian component allocates $282 million for the installation of new power cables, expanding power capacity and providing 335,000 clean cooking devices to rural areas. In Rwanda, the financing will modernize the national grid and deliver clean cooking technologies to households and public instillations.

The AfDB also approved an $8.79 million grant in May 2025 to support clean cooking initiatives in Uganda, part of its broader $2 billion commitment to scale clean cooking solutions across Africa over the next decade. The funding will support the Uganda Biogas and Electric Cooking Project, aimed at reducing dependence on traditional biogas, improving household energy efficiency and curbing indoor air pollution. With over 89% of Ugandans still relying on firewood and charcoal, the country’s clean cooking strategy – targeting 50% access by 2025 – offers a strong policy foundation and investment-ready framework aligned with its Energy Transition Plan.

As such, this year’s From Firewood to Freedom panel at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will spotlight clean cooking as a central pillar of inclusive energy access. While investment discourse often focuses on power generation and electrification, the panel will highlight cooking as a critical component of energy planning. Moderated by Fernando Covas, Executive Director-Natural Gas Liquids, S&P Global Commodity Insights, the session will feature insights from Refilwe Sebothoma, CEO, Hakem Energies; Temiola George, Head of Energy Studies, African Petroleum Producers’ Organization; Edward Kinyua, Director-Petroleum and Gas, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority; and Olagoke Aluko, MD-Marketing, Services and Country Chair-South Africa, TotalEnergies.

“Clean cooking is not just a health or environmental issue – it’s a cornerstone of Africa’s just energy transition. By scaling access to solutions like LPG, we can unlock transformative benefits for women, children and entire communities across the continent. Expanding clean cooking access is essential to achieving sustainable development, improving quality of life and driving inclusive economic growth across Africa,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.