East Africa’s Energy Future: How Gasfil Is Addressing Affordability, Access, and Climate Challenges

By James Macharia

Energy access, affordability, and sustainability affect East Africa, which has more than 450 million people.

Rising populations, urbanisation, and industry in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have increased demand for dependable, sustainable energy sources.

However, the region has long suffered from a significant over-reliance on traditional and harmful fuels like petrol and diesel, contributing to air pollution, health issues, and environmental damage.

Gasfil, a leading energy solutions supplier, has emerged as a pioneer in meeting East Africa’s energy needs.

The company provides customised solutions that address the unique needs of emerging economies by focusing on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a clean, accessible transportation fuel.

With a deep understanding of the region’s infrastructure challenges and consumer needs, Gasfil is transforming the energy environment by offering a viable, sustainable, and scalable alternative to fossil fuels. A combination of difficulties and opportunities characterises East Africa’s energy landscape.

While the region has abundant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, and hydro, energy access remains a big problem.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity, with many dependent on biomass such as firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating.

This firm reliance on polluting fuels causes deforestation, poor air quality, and health problems, particularly respiratory disorders in women and children.

Using petrol and diesel in transportation has long been a significant source of air pollution, leading to smog, greenhouse gas emissions, and urban health problems.  

However, LPG has emerged as a cleaner, more sustainable alternative for vehicles, providing immediate benefits such as decreased emissions and operational costs.

LPG is manufactured from natural gas and oil and emits fewer pollutants than conventional fuels as it burns cleaner Gasfil views LPG as a critical solution to East Africa’s energy difficulties, especially in the transportation sector.

The company’s emphasis on LPG as a readily available and cost-effective fuel source has put it at the forefront of the region’s energy transformation.

Gasfil’s services are tailored to the unique needs of the East African market, where pricing, infrastructure, and accessibility are critical factors in successful energy adoption.

The company’s commitment to developing localised infrastructure that meets the region’s specific energy requirements has led to its success in East Africa.

Even though many East African countries still lack adequate energy infrastructure and have considerable gaps in the supply chain for greener fuels, Gasfil aims to change this through its strategy, which is based on building a robust distribution network that reaches both urban and rural areas and brings LPG to communities that traditional fuel suppliers have previously underserved.

The company has invested in developing retail shops, delivery systems, and collaborations with local businesses across East Africa to increase LPG availability.

This localised infrastructure contributes to overcoming the difficulties faced in energy access due to weak supply chains and limited fuel availability and ensuring that LPG is available and affordable to customers in large cities and small communities.

In addition, Gasfil’s efforts to construct a sustainable LPG infrastructure are consistent with international climate obligations.

Gasfil is helping to lower the region’s carbon footprint by increasing the availability of cleaner transportation fuels, an essential part of East Africa’s contribution to global climate action.

Renewable energy solutions can generate long-term growth in emerging economies, as demonstrated by Gasfil’s pioneering work in East Africa.

The company’s concentration on LPG as a transportation fuel provides a practical, scalable solution to the region’s environmental and economic concerns.

Gasfil contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable future for East Africa by developing specialised infrastructure, providing flexible payment choices, and lowering harmful emissions.

As other companies consider investing in Africa’s energy revolution, Gasfil’s approach offers vital insights into satisfying emerging markets’ unique needs and paving the way for a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous East Africa.

The writer is James Macharia, Managing Director, Gasfil Kenya