Long-Lasting, Powerful And Green – Why The World Needs LPG

Long-lasting, powerful and green – why the world needs LPG

18 June 2015

Its discovery dates back 115 years – to 1910. Just two years on, it was being used to cook food. Another year later, in 1913, it was fuelling cars. And by 1915, it was being used in torches to cut through metal.

It's called liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, and in a world striving to consume with care – not only this National Environment Month, but every month – it's something we should be incorporating into our everyday lives.

LPG is a non-renewable gaseous fossil fuel. It is a by-product of natural gas processing and oil refining, a flammable but non-toxic mixture of propane and butane.

Although a fossil fuel, LPG is relatively clean when compared to fuels such as coal and oil, producing less air pollution in terms of soot particles, nitrogen oxides and sulphur, as well as fewer carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, when used in vehicles, LPG produces up to 40% less carbon dioxide emissions than petrol-fuelled vehicles. In contemporary energy lingo, LPG burns cleanly.

LPG is used as a fuel in many critical sectors, from transportation (it is the third-most commonly used transportation fuel in the world, behind petrol and diesel, according to the World Petroleum Council), to agriculture, construction and sailing. Its many uses, however, extend from the industrial to the personal, and using LPG in your home – for cooking and heating – has benefits that span from the economic to the environmental.

LPG has a higher calorific value per unit than other commonly used fuels. This means that its flame is hotter than the flame of coal, natural gas, petrol or diesel, making it a more efficient fuel resource. This in turn fuels – pardon the pun – its cost-effectiveness. A little bit goes a long way.

LPG is stored in pressurised tanks, which compresses it to such an extent that it is reduced to a liquid that takes up more than 250 times less space than if it were retained as a gas. This means that large quantities can be stored in relatively small containers. This portability is especially convenient in remote areas where ordinary gas supplies aren't available and, as a result, is particularly relevant within the South African context. Indeed, introducing LPG into rural areas is an important contribution to regional development. Its safety when compared to the volatility of paraffin, which is one of the most widely used fuels in rural contexts, is another factor that makes it an attractive alternative.

From its pressurised container, LPG is released slowly and safely through a valve that turns it once again from liquid to gas. The fact that it vaporises when it is released from a tank, together with the fact that it is not water-soluble, means that it does not pollute underground water sources. These sealed tanks also largely eliminate the possibility of emissions or spillages that could either evaporate or cause air pollution.

The environmental benefits of LPG go on and on. Indeed, it has served to impact the use of fuels for commercial transport in certain countries – many taxi companies in Australia, Singapore and Japan require the use of LPG across their fleets.

LPG offers significant advantages to households and businesses alike. Its cost-effectiveness, efficiency and environmental friendliness make it an essential ingredient in the creation of a planet that needs to "consume with care", as the Environment Month's slogan tells us.

As public demand increases, making LPG available is the responsibility of government and independent fuel and service providers. It is about enabling a culture where conserving pennies and caring for the environment is made possible in a single transaction.

LPG is just the start.