As pressure builds to strengthen regional energy supply and expand access to cleaner cooking solutions, South Africa’s role as a strategic LPG gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa comes into focus this week, as government and industry leaders convene in Johannesburg.
The Sub-Saharan Africa LPG Expo – Johannesburg 2026 will open with an address by Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, setting the tone for a programme focused on clean cooking and South Africa’s evolving role in regional energy supply. On Day 2, the Deputy Minister will also lead a high-level discussion titled “Deep Dive into Clean Cooking,” addressing key priorities in accelerating access to clean cooking solutions across the region.
At the centre of the agenda is a key industry question: how South Africa can translate its infrastructure position into a functional regional LPG hub, while navigating supply chain risks and growing cross-border demand.
This will be explored in the keynote panel, “South Africa as the LPG Gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities, Risks, and Strategic Imperatives,” moderated by LPGSA Managing Director Gadibolae Dihlabi. The session will examine regional trade opportunities, infrastructure readiness, supply chain constraints, and the strategic priorities required to support LPG growth across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Government participation spans multiple departments and functions. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) will outline policy direction and regulatory considerations for the sector.
Thabang Audat, Chief Director of Energy Policy and Planning at the Department of Electricity and Energy, will address the transition from traditional biomass to LPG, positioning LPG as a strategic fuel to enhance energy security, affordability, and reliability. His session will also highlight the policy frameworks, infrastructure requirements, and public-private collaboration needed to accelerate adoption across emerging markets.
Jacob Malatse, Director at the Department of Employment and Labour, will focus on safety, compliance, and certification across the LPG value chain, covering cylinders, appliances, installations, and ongoing regulatory enforcement.
Regulation and safety remain central to the programme, with sessions addressing the governance structures required to ensure reliable distribution, consumer protection, market stability, and equitable access, including safety standards, licensing frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and regional cooperation across borders.
The agenda will also consider external pressures on the sector, including how developments in the Middle East may affect LPG supply chains to South Africa and the wider Sub-Saharan region, with potential implications for availability, pricing, and supply stability.
Gadibolae Dihlabi, Managing Director of LPGSA, said:
“South Africa’s role as an LPG gateway will ultimately be measured by how well policy, infrastructure, and supply realities are aligned. This platform brings those priorities into one room, from regulation and safety to the practical requirements of cross-border supply.”
The discussions taking place this week are expected to shape how South Africa converts its LPG position into practical regional supply, with implications for market stability and access across Sub-Saharan Africa.
