South Africa Advances Inclusive Energy Access Through Clean Cooking Initiative in North West

Mogwase & Moruleng, North West Province — 28 April 2026

South Africa has taken a significant step toward advancing inclusive energy access and sustainable development with the launch of the Easigas Clean Cooking Initiative (ECCI 2030), a large-scale programme aimed at transforming how underserved communities access and use energy.

The initiative, inaugurated in Mogwase and Moruleng in the North West Province, reflects the country’s commitment to translating global development frameworks into tangible local impact. It aligns closely with consensus reached at the G20 Johannesburg Summit 2025, particularly under the Energy Transitions and Energy Access portfolio, while also contributing to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including health, gender equality, clean energy, and economic growth.

At the launch, Samantha Graham-Maré, Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, underscored the importance of clean cooking as a fundamental human development issue. She emphasised that access to safe and reliable cooking energy is not a luxury, but a necessity that directly impacts dignity, health, and economic participation.

Across South Africa, millions of households continue to rely on traditional fuels such as wood, coal, and paraffin. These energy sources contribute to indoor air pollution, increase safety risks, and disproportionately affect women and children. Addressing this challenge is central to achieving equitable development outcomes, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities.

The ECCI 2030 initiative introduces a practical and scalable solution through the deployment of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), supported by a decentralised distribution model designed to reach households at community level. This includes the commissioning of a bulk LPG facility in Mogwase and the establishment of localised points of sale in Moruleng, ensuring that energy supply is both accessible and reliable.

The initiative is led by Easigas, in partnership with Amani Africa, under the leadership of Refilwe Sebothoma, Founder and CEO of Amani Africa and Hakem Energies. Her work has been widely recognised for advancing community-based energy solutions that prioritise inclusion and empowerment.

Easigas CEO Jeremie Tromp highlighted the role of LPG as an immediate and scalable alternative to polluting fuels, noting that infrastructure investment must be matched by effective last-mile delivery systems to ensure meaningful impact.

A defining feature of the ECCI 2030 model is its emphasis on inclusive economic participation. Local entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, are supported to operate community-based distribution points, creating new livelihood opportunities while strengthening energy access systems. This approach reflects broader global priorities around economic inclusion and the empowerment of historically marginalised groups.

The initiative also demonstrates the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, bringing together government institutions, regulators, private sector actors, and community leadership. Key stakeholders include the Department of Electricity and Energy, NERSA, the Department of Small Business Development, and SEDFA, alongside traditional leadership represented by Kgosi Nyalala Pilane.

Such collaboration reflects a growing recognition within international development frameworks that complex challenges such as energy poverty require coordinated and integrated responses. By combining infrastructure investment with community engagement and enterprise development, the initiative creates a model that is both sustainable and scalable.

Importantly, the ECCI 2030 initiative is closely aligned with South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, which seeks to balance environmental sustainability with social and economic equity. Rather than focusing solely on large-scale energy systems, the initiative addresses everyday energy needs at household level, ensuring that the benefits of the transition are broadly shared.

From a global perspective, the initiative offers valuable insights into how countries can operationalise commitments made in multilateral forums. It demonstrates how policy frameworks can be translated into practical interventions that directly improve quality of life, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The focus on clean cooking also aligns with international efforts to reduce emissions and improve public health outcomes, while supporting gender equality by reducing the burden of fuel collection and exposure to harmful smoke.

As South Africa continues to play an active role within global platforms such as the G20, initiatives like ECCI 2030 highlight the country’s ability to bridge the gap between global policy and local implementation. They also reinforce the importance of placing communities at the centre of development efforts, ensuring that solutions are responsive to real-world conditions.

The launch of the ECCI 2030 initiative marks not only a milestone for South Africa, but also a potential model for other countries facing similar challenges. By integrating clean energy access with economic empowerment and community participation, it offers a pathway toward more inclusive and sustainable development.

As the initiative moves forward, its success will depend on continued collaboration, sustained investment, and the ability to scale its model across other regions. However, its foundation is clear: a commitment to improving lives through practical, inclusive, and forward-looking energy solutions.